Arman Tsarukyan not planning to weigh-in as backup for UFC White House

Arman Tsarukyan will not serve as the official backup fighter for Ilia Topuria's lightweight title defence against interim champion Justin Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250, the June 14 event at the White House. Dana White had named Tsarukyan as backup for the bout, but the Armenian fighter made clear he has other commitments. Tsarukyan is scheduled for a wrestling match in the RAF on June 13, the day before the UFC event, and told reporters he intends to honour that competition rather than weigh in as a reserve. "I am a backup, but everything is going good, two weeks left, I think they're gonna fight," Tsarukyan said at a presser for his wrestling bout. The fighter also noted he is booked until September and is waiting for his own title-shot opportunity. His decision to prioritise the wrestling match over backup duties underscores the competing interests fighters sometimes face when called to hold multiple commitments simultaneously.