UFC legend Chael Sonnen spoke out against what he sees as unfair treatment of top lightweight Arman Tsarukyan by the promotional brass.

Top UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan will have to wait a bit longer for another shot at the title ahead of UFC 324.

UFC 324, headlined by an interim title fight between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett, is days away in Las Vegas. Despite a recent stoppage win over Dan Hooker, Tsarukyan was left out of the interim title discussion amidst Ilia Topuria’s ongoing absence.

UFC CEO Dana White recently admitted that some of Tsarukyan’s questionable behavior outside of the cage, including headbutting Hooker at the UFC Qatar ceremonial weigh-in, has indefinitely postponed Tsarukyan getting another title shot. He also withdrew on short notice at UFC 311 last year due to a supposed back injury suffered just hours before the event.

UFC legend Chael Sonnen doesn’t agree with White’s stance and believes Tsarukyan deserves another crack at the belt.

Chael Sonnen: UFC should move on from Arman Tsarukyan snubs and grant title shot

During a recent interview with The Schmo, Sonnen weighed in on the UFC’s latest dismissal of Tsarukyan.

“Can we please forgive him?” Sonnen said of Tsarukyan. “Whatever he did to get himself in this weird purgatory, can we also remember that he agreed to be a backup fighter? That he did a training camp, that he flew out to Las Vegas, he went through the commission, he made weight. He was ready to go in a moment’s notice. You get something for that. I want him to get something. I want him recognized. I forgive Arman Tsarukyan, and I want other people to forgive him.

“We don’t really know what’s going on with Ilia Topuria, in fairness, then Islam (Makhachev) doesn’t look like he’s going to come back to the weight class, but he says he’s going to,” Sonnen continued. “I don’t know if Tsarukyan is being punished as much as the narrative says. I think that there’s a little bit of a waiting pattern. He was told that if he beats Hooker, that his next fight will be for the title. He has not been booked for his next fight, so there is a chance that this plan is still intact.” (h/t MMA Junkie)

As of this writing, Topuria is targeting a return to the Octagon sometime in Quarter 2 of the year (April-June), meaning a likely showdown with the Pimblett vs. Gaethje winner. If Topuria vacates the lightweight title, Tsarukyan would likely be next in line for a vacant title shot.