In a news roundup, several fighters made noteworthy statements. Arman Tsarukyan stated he wants Justin Gaethje to drop out so he can fight Ilia Topuria and "kick him out of the UFC," adding he won't stop until he has at least five title defenses. Merab Dvalishvili said he has no problems with Dagestani fighters except Umar Nurmagomedov, emphasizing healthy competition between fighters from Armenia, Georgia, Chechnya, and Dagestan. Topuria responded harshly to Tsarukyan, calling him "incredibly stupid" and a "complete idiot," claiming Tsarukyan spends his father's money rather than his own and promising to break his jaw in the first round if they meet. Additionally, Benoit Saint-Denis announced a fight with Paddy Pimblett by posting roast beef (an English dish) on social media, and Bogdan Guskov declined a fight with Baranyevski.
Ilia Topuria fired back at Arman Tsarukyan this week with a sharp personal attack, calling the Armenian lightweight contender "incredibly stupid" and a "complete idiot" after Tsarukyan publicly declared he wants to fight Topuria and kick him out of the UFC. The exchange is the latest escalation in what has become one of the division's most heated rivalries.
Topuria, ranked second in the lightweight division and first in the pound-for-pound standings, carries a 17-1-0 record and has established himself as one of the sport's most dangerous strikers. The 29-year-old Spaniard lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute and adds a submission threat on the ground with 1.1 attempts per 15 minutes. He did not hold back in his response to Tsarukyan, also claiming his rival spends his father's money rather than his own, and promised to break Tsarukyan's jaw in the first round if the two ever meet.
Tsarukyan had stated he hopes Justin Gaethje withdraws from a scheduled bout so he can step in and face Topuria, adding that he won't rest until he has earned at least five title defenses.
Elsewhere in the roundup, Merab Dvalishvili addressed the regional dynamics in combat sports, saying he has no issues with fighters from Dagestan outside of Umar Nurmagomedov, while pointing to healthy competition among athletes from Armenia, Georgia, Chechnya, and Dagestan. Nurmagomedov, 30, sits ranked second in the bantamweight division and holds a 20-1-0 record, landing 3.86 significant strikes per minute at 56 percent accuracy while averaging over four takedowns per 15 minutes.
Benoit Saint-Denis confirmed a matchup with Paddy Pimblett through a social media post featuring roast beef — a nod to the Englishman's heritage. Pimblett, ranked sixth in the lightweight division at 31 years old, owns a 23-4-0 record and generates the most striking volume of any fighter mentioned in this roundup at 5.49 significant strikes per minute. He also carries a ground threat with 1.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
Bogdan Guskov separately confirmed he turned down a proposed bout against Baranyevski.
