Dana White Confirms Arman Tsarukyan Is One of the UFC’s Top-5 Stars
In a recent podcast interview, UFC President Dana White was asked to name some of the biggest stars currently in the promotion. The conversation began with a question about Paddy Pimblett’s status before White expanded on the fighters he believes sit at the top of the star rankings right now.
White listed several well-known names without hesitation. “Jon Jones is still up there. O’Malley. Merab has done a great job and has become a star. Islam,” he said.
When the interviewer specifically asked whether Arman Tsarukyan would make that same list, White’s answer was immediate and clear.
“Absolutely. Arman is definitely in there,” White stated. “The guy has done an incredible job of getting attention. And a lot of Nina Drama.”
The inclusion of Tsarukyan alongside established figures like Jon Jones, Sean O’Malley, Merab Dvalishvili, and Islam Makhachev is a strong endorsement from the UFC president. White highlighted both the Armenian contender’s ability to perform inside the Octagon and his knack for generating attention outside of it.
Tsarukyan has steadily built his profile through a mix of impressive wins and an outspoken personality that keeps him in the conversation. White’s comments suggest the promotion values that combination and sees Tsarukyan as one of the more important figures in the lightweight division and the UFC as a whole.
By placing him firmly in the Top-5 stars conversation, White made it clear that Tsarukyan has successfully crossed the line from rising contender to recognized star. The lightweight’s ability to create “Nina Drama,” as White put it, appears to be working in his favor when it comes to overall marketability.
The exchange offered a rare look at how the UFC’s leadership currently ranks some of its most visible fighters. For Arman Tsarukyan, being mentioned in the same breath as some of the biggest names in the sport is a clear sign of how far he has come and how highly he is now regarded.
