“Just fire him” Arman Tsarukyan says UFC should cut Michael Chandler after brutal White House loss
Arman Tsarukyan used his latest media appearance to take aim at Michael Chandler after Chandler’s first-round loss to Mauricio Ruffy at UFC Freedom 250 in Washington, D.C. Tsarukyan’s line was blunt.
Speaking to Ariel Helwani, Tsarukyan explained: “I am going to beat Michael Chandler. Poor Michael Chandler. How they let Michael Chandler fight? Please cut him. Just fire him. Tell UFC they got to fire him. Yeah, because he is losing all of his fights.”
The comments came during Tsarukyan’s interview on The Ariel Helwani Show, where he was booked to break down his own busy stretch and react to the UFC White House card.
Arman Tsarukyan tears into Michael Chandler after latest loss:
Chandler’s latest setback gave Tsarukyan an easy target as his most recent loss to Ruffy coming by TKO at 4:29 of round one at UFC Freedom 250. Multiple reports also note that Chandler has now dropped six of his last seven UFC fights, with his only win in that run coming against Tony Ferguson.
Tsarukyan’s criticism also fits a longer pattern. In earlier comments, he dismissed Chandler as “a nobody” and said the UFC had tried to turn him into a star. He has also brushed off Chandler’s criticism of his own decision-making, telling him they are “not on the same level” and that he is focused on becoming champion.
For Chandler, the issue is less about one bad night and more about the shape of his run. Before UFC Freedom 250, coverage around the bout described it as a prove-it fight for the former Bellator champion, with some analysts suggesting defeat could even push retirement talk. Instead, the result left him with another stoppage loss and more questions about what comes next.
Tsarukyan’s remarks were the kind of harsh, direct line that travels fast in MMA, especially when it comes after a clean finish and a fighter already under pressure. Whether the UFC acts on that kind of talk is another matter, but the message from Tsarukyan was clear: he sees Chandler as a name the promotion should move on from.
