Tsarukyan Says McGregor Is Done After 66-Second UFC 329 Injury

Q: With McGregor's era ending, can Arman Tsarukyan dethrone Justin Gaethje to become the new king of the lightweight division?

Yes—Tsarukyan has a real chance to dethrone Justin Gaethje, and he looks like the strongest candidate to lead the lightweight division after McGregor’s decline. The case for Tsarukyan is strong. He is widely viewed as the No. 1 contender, is on a five-fight winning streak, and owns major wins over Charles Oliveira and Dan Hooker. At 29, he is in his prime, and analysts such as Daniel Cormier have pointed to his constant activity and well-rounded game—elite wrestling, grappling, cardio, and improving striking—as reasons he has become “undeniable” for a title shot. Gaethje, however, remains a dangerous champion and a difficult stylistic test. He just solidified his position by beating Ilia Topuria in a title unification bout, and his power, pace, and experience in championship fights make him a live threat against anyone at 155 pounds. Tsarukyan would likely need to avoid prolonged striking exchanges and impose his wrestling consistently to win. The biggest uncertainty is timing, not merit. Gaethje has not committed to Tsarukyan as his next opponent, and Tsarukyan’s outside commitments could affect when the fight happens. But on form, résumé, and divisional logic, Tsarukyan is the clearest challenger. McGregor’s era may be ending, but the lightweight division is not lacking for a new centerpiece. If Tsarukyan gets Gaethje next and executes his grappling-heavy game plan, he has the tools to become champion and the new standard-bearer at lightweight.

Q: After another devastating injury at 38, is Conor McGregor's fighting career truly over or setting up one final, lucrative comeback?

McGregor’s elite UFC career looks effectively over, but a final lucrative comeback still appears more likely than outright retirement. The evidence against a true sporting revival is strong. He is now 38, coming off another major knee injury after the 2021 leg break, and his UFC form has badly declined: he is 1-4 in the Octagon since 2017 and lasted just 66 seconds against Max Holloway at UFC 329 without landing a significant strike. Arman Tsarukyan’s view that McGregor is “done” as a top-level contender reflects a broader reality: age, inactivity, repeated injuries and years away from consistent competition make another run at elite opponents highly improbable. But the business case for one more return remains powerful. McGregor has publicly ruled out retirement, saying he will undergo surgery, recover and complete the final fight on his UFC deal. His name still drives enormous attention, and even after this loss, there are obvious money fights available that do not require him to beat top contenders. That could mean a carefully matched UFC farewell, a boxing event such as a Floyd Mayweather rematch or Jake Paul-type spectacle, or eventually a BKFC appearance, especially given his stake in that promotion. So the most realistic reading is this: McGregor is probably finished as a serious championship threat, but not as a combat-sports attraction. His future is less about titles than about one last high-revenue event built on his star power.

3 articles · Updated · MMA Fighting · Jul 18

Arman Tsarukyan said Conor McGregor should stop fighting after the former two-division champion’s UFC 329 comeback ended with a severe knee injury 66 seconds into the bout.
Tsarukyan called McGregor a GOAT who changed the sport and drew fans to UFC, but said another return makes little sense unless the promotion gives him easier matchups.
McGregor has still insisted he wants to fight again, even floating a third bout with Max Holloway once he recovers from planned knee surgery.
For Tsarukyan, the debate is secondary to his own title push at 155 pounds, where he says UFC has a date and opponent in mind to be confirmed Monday.
The top-ranked lightweight said his goal is not just to win the belt but to become the division’s best champion ever.