Arman Tsarukyan stated he would like to face Ilia Topuria if Justin Gaethje withdraws, claiming he wants to "throw Topuria out of the UFC." The Armenian fighter declared he won't stop until he achieves at least five UFC title defenses. Meanwhile, Merab Dvalishvili said he has no issues with Dagestani fighters except Umar Nurmagomedov, emphasizing that fighters from Armenia, Georgia, Chechnya, and Dagestan are hardworking and share healthy competition. Topuria responded aggressively to Tsarukyan's comments, calling him unintelligent and saying he would break his jaw in the first round if they fought. Additionally, Benoit Saint-Denis announced a fight with Paddy Pimblett by posting a roast beef image on social media, and Bogdan Guskov declined a fight with Baranievski.
Arman Tsarukyan has called out Ilia Topuria and declared he will not rest until he has defended a UFC title at least five times, with the Armenian contender also stating he wants to "throw Topuria out of the UFC" should Justin Gaethje withdraw from a scheduled matchup.
Tsarukyan is currently ranked in the lightweight division and has made clear that his ambitions stretch far beyond a single championship reign. The callout sets up a potential blockbuster at 155 pounds if the Gaethje bout falls through.
Topuria, ranked second at lightweight and sitting atop the pound-for-pound rankings at 29 years old, did not hold back in response. The Spanish-Georgian fighter dismissed Tsarukyan's comments, calling him unintelligent and claiming he would break his jaw inside the first round. The Georgian-born Spaniard carries a 17-1-0 record and lands an impressive 4.81 significant strikes per minute with a striking accuracy of 48 percent, making him one of the most dangerous finishers in the division.
Elsewhere in the conversation, bantamweight contender Merab Dvalishvili, a Georgian-born fighter, addressed regional rivalries, saying he has no issues with fighters from Dagestan, Armenia, Chechnya, or Georgia broadly, singling out only Umar Nurmagomedov as an exception. Nurmagomedov, ranked second at bantamweight, holds a 20-1-0 record at 30 years old and lands 4.03 takedowns per 15 minutes while striking at 56 percent accuracy.
In a separate development, Benoit Saint-Denis announced a lightweight fight against Paddy Pimblett through an unconventional social media post featuring a roast beef image. Pimblett, ranked sixth at lightweight with a 23-4-0 record, is known for his high output, landing 5.49 significant strikes per minute, and carries a submission threat with 1.2 attempts per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- A Tsarukyan vs. Topuria fight would be an all-elite lightweight title clash between the division's top contenders
- Topuria's pound-for-pound number-one status means any opponent faces enormous divisional stakes
- Pimblett vs. Saint-Denis adds a high-profile lightweight bout with contrasting grappling styles in play
- Dvalishvili's comments signal continued tension with Nurmagomedov ahead of a potential bantamweight title picture collision
