Arman Tsarukyan stated he wants Justin Gaethje to drop out so he can fight Ilia Topuria and knock him out of the UFC, which he identified as his goal. He also declared he will only stop when he has a minimum of five UFC title defenses. In related news, Merab Dvalishvili commented that he has no issues with Dagestani fighters except Umar Nurmagomedov, whom he dislikes, while emphasizing healthy competition among fighters from Armenia, Georgia, Chechnya, and Dagestan. Topuria responded harshly to Tsarukyan, calling him stupid and claiming he would break his jaw in the first round if they fought. The post also mentioned that Benoit Saint-Denis announced a fight with Paddy Pimblett by posting a roast beef image on social media, and that Bogdan Guskov declined a fight with Baranievski.
Arman Tsarukyan has turned up the heat in the lightweight division, publicly calling for Justin Gaethje to withdraw from his scheduled bout so that Tsarukyan can step in and face Ilia Topuria — with the stated intention of knocking the Georgian-Spanish star out of the UFC entirely. Beyond that matchup, Tsarukyan also declared he will not stop competing until he has defended a UFC title at least five times.
Topuria, ranked second in the lightweight division and currently sitting atop the pound-for-pound rankings at 29 years old, did not let the callout go unanswered. The Spain-based fighter fired back sharply, calling Tsarukyan stupid and vowing to break his jaw inside the first round if they ever share the Octagon. Topuria carries a 17-1-0 record and averages 4.81 significant strikes per minute, making him one of the division's most dangerous finishers.
Merab Dvalishvili added his voice to the broader regional conversation, saying he holds no grudge against Dagestani fighters as a group but singled out Umar Nurmagomedov as someone he genuinely dislikes. Nurmagomedov, 30, fights out of Eagles MMA and holds a 20-1-0 record at bantamweight, where he is ranked second. Dvalishvili also stressed the value of competition among fighters representing Armenia, Georgia, Chechnya, and Dagestan.
Elsewhere, Benoit Saint-Denis signaled an upcoming fight with Paddy Pimblett by posting a roast beef image on social media — an unconventional announcement that nonetheless appears to confirm the matchup is in motion. Pimblett, ranked sixth in the lightweight division, holds a 23-4-0 record and generates an eye-catching 5.49 significant strikes per minute. The 31-year-old Liverpudlian also submits opponents at a rate of 1.2 attempts per fifteen minutes, giving him a well-rounded threat profile.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan's callout puts direct pressure on the lightweight title picture, potentially reshaping the division's near-term contender queue
- Topuria's sharp public response raises the prospect of a high-profile grudge match if the two sides converge
- The Saint-Denis vs. Pimblett pairing would carry significant ranking implications at lightweight, with Pimblett's sixth-place standing on the line
- Dvalishvili's comments on Umar Nurmagomedov add another layer of tension to an already competitive bantamweight landscape
