Arman Tsarukyan targets Topuria, while Merab and fighters exchange words

Multiple UFC fighters have made statements about potential matchups and rivalries. Arman Tsarukyan stated he would like Gaethje to drop out so he could fight 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, whom he simply dislikes, while praising the work ethic and healthy competition among fighters from Armenia, Georgia, Chechnya, and Dagestan. Ilia Topuria, who has updated his chest tattoo, responded harshly to Arman, calling him unintelligent and saying he would break his jaw in the first round if they fought. Other news includes Arman discussing a potential Volkanovski fight, Demetrious Johnson predicting Chimaev over O'Malley, Benoit Saint-Denis posting a roast beef image suggesting a Pimblett fight, and Bogdan Guskov declining a fight with Baranyewski.