Arman Tsarukyan has intensified his feud with Ilia Topuria, stating he wants Justin Gaethje to lose so he can fight Topuria and "throw him out of the UFC." Tsarukyan also declared he won't stop until he has at least five UFC title defenses. Topuria responded harshly, calling Arman "incredibly stupid" and a "fucking child" who spends his father's money rather than his own. Topuria claimed that if they meet in the octagon, he will break Arman's jaw in the first round. Meanwhile, Merab Dvalishvili commented on regional rivalries, saying he has no issues with Dagestani fighters except Umar Nurmagomedov, whom he dislikes, but otherwise views the competition between Armenia, Georgia, Chechnya, and Dagestan as healthy.
Arman Tsarukyan has turned up the heat on his rivalry with Ilia Topuria, publicly declaring he wants to strip the former featherweight champion of his place in the UFC — and Topuria responded with a barrage of personal insults.
Tsarukyan made clear he is watching the lightweight landscape closely, stating he hopes Justin Gaethje loses so that a fight with Topuria can be made. The Armenian contender also outlined an ambitious personal target, saying he will not stop competing until he has secured at least five UFC title defenses.
Topuria, the 29-year-old Spaniard ranked second in the lightweight division and first in the pound-for-pound standings, carries a 17-1-0 record and averages 4.81 significant strikes per minute. He did not hold back in his reply, calling Tsarukyan "incredibly stupid" and a "fucking child" who spends his father's money. Topuria went further, warning that if the two meet in the octagon, he will break Tsarukyan's jaw inside the opening round.
Standing across that potential matchup is Gaethje, the current lightweight champion. "The Highlight" holds a 28-5-0 record and, at 37, remains one of the division's most aggressive fighters, landing 6.48 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy.
On a separate front, bantamweight Merab Dvalishvili weighed in on the broader regional dynamic shaping MMA's competitive landscape. The Georgian fighter said he holds no particular grudge against Dagestani competitors as a group, singling out only second-ranked bantamweight Umar Nurmagomedov — who is 20-1-0 and averaging over four takedowns per 15 minutes — as someone he genuinely dislikes. Dvalishvili described the rivalry between Armenia, Georgia, Chechnya, and Dagestan as healthy competition overall.
Why it matters
- A Tsarukyan-Topuria fight would pit two of the lightweight division's most technically complete strikers against each other.
- Gaethje's title reign directly determines when and whether that matchup becomes possible.
- Dvalishvili's comments on Nurmagomedov add tension to an already crowded bantamweight picture at the top of the rankings.
