Arman Tsarukyan eyes Max Holloway fight after UFC 329 fallout: report

Arman Tsarukyan is now a realistic option for Max Holloway’s next outing after UFC 329 left the lightweight division in flux.

On 18 May 2025 at UFC 329 in Las Vegas, Conor McGregor’s shock return ended in a one-second leg kick that sidelined him for good. The co-main event saw Paddy Pimblett choke out Benoit Saint Denis in 20 seconds, while Justin Gaethje’s title future stayed murky. Holloway, who never fought McGregor, now faces a logjam of contenders-including Tsarukyan.

Holloway’s UFC 329 main-event chance vanished when McGregor’s leg buckled before the opening bell. Without a win over the Irishman, Holloway couldn’t erase his recent loss to Charles Oliveira or reset his title hopes. The lightweight belt picture is a mess: Gaethje may retire, Pimblett is surging after his first-round finish, and Tsarukyan’s stock keeps climbing.

Bleacher Report’s post-fight rundown lists Tsarukyan as a candidate to face Holloway. The Armenian star has two straight wins and a top-10 ranking, but the division’s chaos means matchmakers must weigh risks. Holloway has said he won’t fight again in 2025, complicating any pairing.

Tsarukyan, 29, is 3-0 since dropping to lightweight in 2023. His resume includes a decision win over Joel Alvarez and a first-round knockout of Damir Hadzovic. The UFC 329 card showed how quickly fortunes change: Pimblett’s star rose on the same night Tsarukyan’s potential rose too.

A Holloway-Tsarukyan fight would give both men a marquee name. Holloway gets a fresh top-tier test after his UFC 329 no-show. Tsarukyan earns a shot at the division’s summit. The catch? Timing. Holloway’s self-imposed layoff and Tsarukyan’s own contender status could collide with other matchups.

Holloway isn’t the only contender hunting a belt shot. Pimblett’s submission of Saint Denis vaulted him to the top five. Mauricio Ruffy, fresh off a first-round knockout of Michael Chandler, is also in the mix. Bleacher Report’s list puts Ruffy vs. Holloway on the table, but Tsarukyan’s name sits just below.

UFC matchmakers now face a puzzle: Gaethje’s possible exit, Pimblett’s rise, and Holloway’s stalled momentum. Tsarukyan’s camp will argue he’s earned the right to step up. The question is whether the UFC brass agree-or if they’ll chase the bigger name first.

Tsarukyan’s next fight likely hinges on Holloway’s decision. If Holloway waits until 2026, Tsarukyan could face a ranked rival like Islam Makhachev or Rafael Fiziev instead. His camp may push for a title eliminator if the division’s logjam clears.

One thing is clear: Tsarukyan’s stock is rising. After UFC 329, the Armenian lightweight is no longer a side note in the title race. Whether he lands a blockbuster or a stepping-stone fight, his name will be in the mix for every big card.