Chael Sonnen Just Said Arman Tsarukyan's Next Fight Is Already Booked and Nobody Knows Who It Is

UFC veteran Chael Sonnen just dropped a bombshell claim that's got the MMA world spinning. Tsarukyan's next opponent is already locked in, according to Sonnen, and the Armenian fighter is basically in holding pattern mode waiting for the announcement.

Sonnen's Theory: It's Either Gaethje or Topuria's Winner

Here's where it gets spicy. During a recent video breakdown, Sonnen laid out his logic: who else makes sense for Tsarukyan right now if not the winner of Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje? The UFC veteran said it straight up. "I have a very difficult time making sense of anybody as the roster sits right now, aside from the winner of Gaethje vs. Ilia," Sonnen explained. "I have a very hard time, but that doesn't mean it's impossible. Not if you go back to my original hypothesis, which is the potential next opponent for Tsarukyan is currently booked."

The logic checks out. Tsarukyan just took down Dan Hooker at UFC Qatar and has earned his shot. He's paid his dues. So either the UFC already has his next dance partner lined up, or they're waiting to see who wins that Topuria-Gaethje fight first.

Tsarukyan Wants Topuria and He's Not Shy About It

Here's the thing though. Tsarukyan doesn't want just any opponent. He wants lightweight champ Ilia Topuria, and he's been making noise about it. In an interview with Ariel Helwani, Tsarukyan made his position crystal clear. "We are both young and on our prime," he said. "Everybody's gonna talk about that fight. 50% gonna think I'm gonna win, 50% gonna think Ilia's gonna win. If it's not you next, then we have a massive problem. My fans gonna have a problem with UFC."

The man has a point. He's been calling out Topuria since the champ claimed the belt, accusing him of ducking. Tsarukyan believes a 50-50 matchup between two primes fighters in their prime would be massive for the sport. Skip the warm-up fight. Give him what he earned.

Building Hype Without Fighting

What's wild is that Tsarukyan is becoming one of the biggest UFC stars without constantly fighting in the promotion. He's been involved in wrestling matches and live streams with famous influencers, keeping his name in the conversation. But he's made it clear he's done proving himself outside the octagon. He's focused now. He wants the title shot.

The question is simple: is Sonnen right? Is his next fight already booked, or is the UFC still sorting out the details? Either way, Tsarukyan is waiting. And the fans are watching.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.