Arman Tsarukyan stated he wants Ilia Topuria's fight with Max Holloway to fall through so he can fight and "kick Topuria out of the UFC," vowing not to stop until he has at least five title defenses. Topuria responded harshly, calling Arman "stupid" and saying he would break his jaw in the first round. Meanwhile, Merab Dvalishvili clarified he has no issues with Dagestani fighters except Umar Nurmagomedov, whom he dislikes personally. Benoit Saint-Denis announced a fight with Paddy Pimblett by posting a roast beef image on social media. Demetrious Johnson predicted a dominant victory for Khamzat Chimaev over Sean Strickland, and Bogdan Guskov declined a fight with Baranieviski.
Arman Tsarukyan and Ilia Topuria have traded sharp words publicly, with Tsarukyan declaring he hopes Topuria's scheduled bout with Max Holloway falls apart so he can step in and, in his own words, "kick Topuria out of the UFC." The Armenian-Russian lightweight also vowed to pursue no fewer than five title defenses once he gets his hands on the belt. Topuria fired back, calling Tsarukyan stupid and promising to break his jaw inside the first round.
Holloway, currently ranked fourth in the lightweight division and ninth on the pound-for-pound list, carries a 27-9 record into his anticipated matchup with Topuria. The 34-year-old Hawaiian is one of the most active strikers in the sport, landing 7.2 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy, making him a compelling and dangerous obstacle for any champion.
Elsewhere in the lightweight picture, Benoit Saint-Denis signaled his intentions toward Paddy Pimblett by posting a roast beef image on social media, a message widely interpreted as a callout of the popular British contender.
Merab Dvalishvili also weighed in on divisional politics, clarifying that his only personal issue among Dagestani fighters is with bantamweight contender Umar Nurmagomedov. The 30-year-old Russian holds a 20-1 record and sits second in the bantamweight rankings, boasting a striking accuracy of 56 percent and an imposing 4.03 takedowns per 15 minutes.
In middleweight news, Demetrious Johnson predicted a dominant performance from Khamzat Chimaev in a prospective matchup with champion Sean Strickland. Strickland, who holds a 31-7 record and a reach of 76 inches, averages a high-output 6.04 significant strikes per minute for Xtreme Couture. Separately, Bogdan Guskov declined an offered bout against Baranieviski.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan's callout keeps pressure on the lightweight title picture regardless of the Topuria-Holloway outcome
- Dvalishvili's comments signal continued tension within the bantamweight division around Nurmagomedov
- Saint-Denis and Pimblett is an intriguing lightweight matchup that has now gained public momentum
