Arman Tsarukyan has stated that his goal is to fight Ilia Topuria if Justin Gaethje withdraws from their scheduled bout, and that he would "kick Topuria out of the UFC." Tsarukyan also declared he will not stop until he achieves at least five UFC title defenses. In related comments, Merab Dvalishvili clarified that he has no issues with Dagestani fighters except Umar Nurmagomedov, whom he personally dislikes, and emphasized healthy competition among fighters from Armenia, Georgia, Chechnya, and Dagestan. Topuria responded by harshly criticizing Tsarukyan, calling him unintelligent and claiming he would break his jaw in the first round if they fought. Additional updates include Tsarukyan discussing a potential bout with Alexander Volkanovski and outlining prospects for Khamzat Chimaev, as well as announcements of other matchups.
Arman Tsarukyan has put Ilia Topuria on notice, declaring that he intends to fight the Georgian-Spanish star if Justin Gaethje pulls out of their scheduled lightweight matchup — and that the outcome of such a fight would be Topuria's exit from the UFC entirely. Tsarukyan also outlined a broader ambition, stating he will not rest until he has made at least five title defenses in the lightweight division.
Topuria, 29, is currently ranked second at lightweight and holds the number-one spot in the pound-for-pound rankings with a 17-1-0 record representing Spain. Fighting out of Climent Club, he averages 4.81 significant strikes per minute and generates consistent submission threats, averaging 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes. Topuria fired back sharply at Tsarukyan's comments, calling him unintelligent and claiming he would finish the fight inside the first round if the two were matched up.
Merab Dvalishvili also weighed in on the broader regional dynamics, clarifying that he holds no animosity toward fighters from Dagestan broadly but does personally dislike bantamweight contender Umar Nurmagomedov. Nurmagomedov, 30, fights out of Eagles MMA and holds a 20-1-0 record, ranked second at bantamweight. He lands an impressive 4.03 takedowns per 15 minutes and connects on 56 percent of his significant strikes. Dvalishvili framed his comments around healthy competition among fighters representing Armenia, Georgia, Chechnya, and Dagestan.
Tsarukyan's statements also touched on a potential future matchup with Alexander Volkanovski, and he commented on prospects ahead for Khamzat Chimaev. Chimaev, ranked first at middleweight and tenth pound-for-pound at 15-1-0, is one of the division's most physically dominant presences at six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach, averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes and a striking accuracy of 60 percent.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan's callout of Topuria adds pressure to an already crowded lightweight title picture
- Topuria's move to lightweight at 17-1-0 and a P4P number-one ranking makes any matchup with him a marquee event
- Dvalishvili's comments on Nurmagomedov add personal stakes to an already competitive bantamweight landscape
