Arman Tsarukyan stated he wants Justin Gaethje to pull out so he can fight Ilia Topuria and "throw him out of the UFC." Tsarukyan also declared he won't stop until he has at least five title defenses. Merab Dvalishvili clarified he has no issues with Dagestani fighters except Umar Nurmagomedov, whom he strongly dislikes. Ilia Topuria, who recently updated his chest tattoo, responded to Tsarukyan with harsh insults, calling him "incredibly stupid" and threatening to break his jaw in the first round if they fight. Other news includes Benoit Saint-Denis apparently announcing a fight with Paddy Pimblett by posting a roast beef photo, and Bogdan Guskov declining a fight with Ivo Baraniewski.
Arman Tsarukyan made clear this week that he wants a shot at Ilia Topuria, telling fans he hopes Justin Gaethje withdraws from his scheduled bout so Tsarukyan can step in and, in his words, "throw him out of the UFC." The Armenian-Russian contender also declared he will not rest until he has secured at least five title defenses, signaling long-term ambitions at lightweight. Separately, bantamweight contender Merab Dvalishvili spoke out about his relationship with Dagestani fighters, saying he has no issue with that camp broadly but holds a strong personal dislike for Umar Nurmagomedov specifically.
Topuria, 29, currently sits at number two in the lightweight rankings and holds the number one spot in the pound-for-pound standings with a 17-1-0 record. Fighting out of Spain under the Climent Club banner, he generates an impressive 4.81 significant strikes per minute and attempts 1.1 submissions per fifteen minutes, making him dangerous in all phases. He did not let Tsarukyan's callout pass quietly, firing back with sharp insults and claiming he would break Tsarukyan's jaw inside the first round.
Nurmagomedov, 30, is ranked second at bantamweight and carries a 20-1-0 record fighting out of Eagles MMA. The Russian is a relentless grappler, averaging 4.03 takedowns per fifteen minutes alongside a striking accuracy of 56 percent — one of the higher figures in the division.
On a lighter note, Paddy Pimblett, ranked sixth at lightweight with a 23-4-0 record, appears set for a fight with Benoit Saint-Denis after Saint-Denis reportedly announced the matchup by posting a roast beef photo on social media. Pimblett, 31, fights out of Next Generation MMA Liverpool and averages 5.49 significant strikes per minute. Also in brief, Bogdan Guskov has turned down a proposed contest with Ivo Baraniewski.
Why it matters
- A Tsarukyan versus Topuria fight would be a legitimate title bout between two of the division's most dangerous strikers
- Dvalishvili's comments about Nurmagomedov add tension to an already competitive bantamweight landscape
- The apparent Saint-Denis versus Pimblett booking shuffles the lightweight top-ten picture
