Arman Tsarukyan eyes top ranked lightweight with UFC on ESPN 46 win – preferably Beneil Dariush

Arman Tsarukyan hopes to draw top-ranked opposition after UFC on ESPN 46.

Tsarukyan (19-3 MMA, 6-2 UFC) meets Joaquim Silva (12-3 MMA, 5-3 UFC) in Saturday’s co-main event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card streams on ESPN+.

If he gets past Silva, Tsarukyan wants an opponent that progresses his career – preferably Beneil Dariush (22-5-1 MMA, 16-5-1 UFC), who’s coming off a TKO loss to Charles Oliveira this past Saturday at UFC 289.

“I would like to fight with Dariush, Fiziev, and Gamrot,” Tsarukyan told reporters at Wednesday’s UFC on ESPN 46 media day. “Three names I have on my mind, but I gotta win this Saturday. He’s a tough opponent.”

Tsarukyan expected that snapping Damir Ismagulov’s winning streak in his past fight would lead to a big name, but he drew Silva instead after the likes of Grant Dawson and Dan Hooker reportedly turned him down.

So, despite Silva being unranked, Tsarukyan expects to progress in the rankings with a win since the situation is out of his control.

“I want you guys to put me – I’m gonna knock him out this Saturday and put me in top five because it’s not my bad,” Tsarukyan said. “Last time I fought with Damir Ismagulov. Damir Ismagulov is toughest fighter in our division. I won (against) him and you didn’t even put me one number higher.

“I stayed in the same position. I was No. 9, I stayed No. 9. It’s crazy, so it doesn’t make sense to fight like this. If I’m gonna win this Saturday, I’m gonna stay the same rank? It doesn’t make sense. You guys gotta put me top five because it’s not my bad.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 46.