Multiple UFC fighters have made notable statements in recent interviews. Arman Tsarukyan stated he wants Justin Gaethje to withdraw so he can fight Ilia Topuria and "throw him out of the UFC," adding he won't stop until he has at least five title defenses. Merab Dvalishvili clarified he has no problems with Dagestani fighters except Umar Nurmagomedov, emphasizing healthy competition among fighters from Armenia, Georgia, Chechnya, and Dagestan. Ilia Topuria, who recently updated his chest tattoo, launched harsh criticism at Tsarukyan, calling him "incredibly stupid" and claiming he would "break his jaw in the first round" if they fought. Additional news includes Tsarukyan discussing a potential Volkanovski fight, predictions about Chimaev versus O'Malley, Benoit Saint-Denis apparently calling out Paddy Pimblett via social media, and Bogdan Guskov declining a fight with Baraniewski.
A war of words has broken out among several UFC contenders, with lightweight title picture figures Ilia Topuria, Arman Tsarukyan, and Merab Dvalishvili all making headlines through recent interview comments.
Tsarukyan made clear he wants no part of a detour, stating he hopes Justin Gaethje withdraws from contention so he can face Topuria directly — with the goal of ending the champion's UFC career. The Armenian fighter added that he intends to collect at least five title defenses of his own once he captures gold.
Topuria, ranked second at lightweight and sitting atop the pound-for-pound rankings at 29 years old, fired back sharply. The Spain-based Georgian fighter, who carries a 17-1 record and lands an impressive 4.81 significant strikes per minute, called Tsarukyan "incredibly stupid" and predicted he would "break his jaw in the first round" should the two meet.
Dvalishvili, meanwhile, moved to clarify his regional relationships, stating he holds no grievances toward fighters from Dagestan, Armenia, Georgia, or Chechnya — with one explicit exception: fellow bantamweight contender Umar Nurmagomedov. Nurmagomedov, ranked second at bantamweight and just 30 years old, owns a 20-1 record and is one of the division's most well-rounded threats, averaging 4.03 takedowns per 15 minutes while connecting on 56 percent of his significant strikes.
Why it matters
- Topuria versus Tsarukyan represents one of the most anticipated matchups in the lightweight division, and the verbal escalation raises the stakes further.
- Dvalishvili singling out Nurmagomedov signals that their bantamweight rivalry carries personal weight beyond typical competition.
- Tsarukyan's mention of a potential Alexander Volkanovski fight adds another layer of complexity to the lightweight contender picture.
