Arman Tsarukyan calls for removing UFC rounds, targets five lightweight title defenses

UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan wants rounds abolished and aims to surpass Islam Makhachev's title defense record.

Arman Tsarukyan, one of the UFC's top lightweight contenders, is pushing for a fundamental change to how MMA fights are structured — eliminating rounds entirely in favor of continuous fighting. The 27-year-old Armenian fighter made the comments ahead of his upcoming appearance on a five-round co-main event scheduled for Los Angeles, a card the UFC sweetened with several incentives to secure his return. Tsarukyan also set an ambitious benchmark for his own legacy: at least five lightweight title defenses, which he says would surpass the record set by current champion Islam Makhachev. The two fighters share a history dating back to 2019, when a then-22-year-old Tsarukyan stepped in on short notice to face Makhachev at a UFC event held in Russia — Tsarukyan's promotional debut. The call to remove rounds is not a new debate in combat sports. Joe Rogan, the UFC's longtime commentator, has publicly raised similar concerns about how the round structure can interrupt the natural flow of a fight and influence judges' decisions.

Why it matters

Tsarukyan is among the UFC lightweight division's most prominent challengers, so his views carry weight in ongoing debates about MMA's ruleset. A move away from rounds would represent one of the most significant structural changes in the sport's modern history.

What's next

Tsarukyan is set to compete in a five-round co-main event in Los Angeles this month.

Key facts

• Tsarukyan wants the UFC to eliminate rounds and allow fights to run continuously
• He is targeting at least five lightweight title defenses to surpass Islam Makhachev's record
• The UFC offered Tsarukyan multiple incentives to compete on an upcoming Los Angeles card
• His scheduled bout is a five-round co-main event
• Tsarukyan first faced Makhachev in 2019 on short notice in Russia, in his UFC debut at age 22
• Joe Rogan has previously and publicly advocated for removing rounds from MMA

Bias & framing notes

Two of the three sources (Yardbarker and Bloody Elbow) use identical headlines and appear to share the same reporting, limiting genuine source independence. MMA Fighting adds historical context about the Tsarukyan-Makhachev rivalry but does not address the rounds proposal. Coverage across all sources frames Tsarukyan's comments positively without seeking counterarguments from UFC officials or opponents of a rule change.

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