Arman Tsarukyan is closing in on his first-ever UFC lightweight title shot as the surging contender has been told by UFC matchmakers that he’ll fight for gold early next year.

In case you missed it, Tsarukyan is coming off an incredible knockout finish over Mauricio Ruffy back at UFC 331 to push his current win streak to six. The performance launched Tsarukyan ahead of other lightweight title hopefuls like former champion Ilia Topuria and budding star Paddy Pimblett. The only problem for Tsarukyan is that he doesn’t know exactly when he’ll fight for the 155-pound strap or who he’ll fight considering current UFC lightweight champion Justin Gaethje has contemplated retirement.

Earlier this week, Tsarukyan sat down with Ariel Helwani to discuss his chances of landing a UFC title shot his next time out. Helwani had to fish the answer from Tsarukyan, but the lightweight contender revealed UFC officials plan on giving him a title shot sometime in February or March of 2027. Tsarukyan doesn’t believe Gaethje will stay active to defend his title at that time, but nobody knows for sure.

Check it out below:

“If UFC pay him so much money he will fight,” said Tsarukyan about Gaethje. “I don’t know if they will pay him so much money to fight me.”

If Gaethje does retire then Tsarukyan believes he’ll fight for the vacant title against the aforementioned Topuria or Pimblett. Topuria might be the better option matchup wise, but the promotion may decide to give Pimblett a shot to become a megastar.