In a series of statements, Arman Tsarukyan declared his intention to fight Ilia Topuria and "kick him out of the UFC," while also stating he won't stop until he has at least five title defenses. Merab Dvalishvili emphasized he has no problems with Dagestani fighters except Umar Nurmagomedov, promoting a message of healthy competition between fighters from Armenia, Georgia, Chechnya, and Dagestan. Topuria responded aggressively to Tsarukyan, calling him unintelligent and claiming he would break his jaw in the first round. Additional notes mention Tsarukyan discussing a potential fight with Volkanovski, Demetrious Johnson predicting Chimaev over O'Malley, Benoit Saint-Denis announcing a fight with Paddy Pimblett, and Bogdan Guskov declining a fight with Baranyevsky.
Arman Tsarukyan has set his sights firmly on Ilia Topuria, publicly declaring he intends to fight the Georgian-Spanish star and "kick him out of the UFC," while also stating his ambitions extend to at least five title defenses once he secures gold.
Topuria, ranked second in the lightweight division and first in the pound-for-pound standings, carries a 17-1-0 record and is one of the most active strikers in the UFC at 4.81 significant strikes landed per minute. The 29-year-old representing Spain did not hold back in response, calling Tsarukyan unintelligent and claiming he would break his jaw inside the first round.
Meanwhile, bantamweight contender Merab Dvalishvili used the moment to address broader regional tensions in MMA, stating he has no issues with fighters from Dagestan as a whole — his only personal conflict being with Umar Nurmagomedov. Dvalishvili framed the message as one of healthy competition between fighters from Armenia, Georgia, Chechnya, and Dagestan. Nurmagomedov, ranked second in the bantamweight division at 30 years old, holds a 20-1-0 record and is a formidable presence on the mat, averaging over four takedowns per 15 minutes with a striking accuracy of 56 percent.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan calling out Topuria puts pressure on the lightweight division's title picture, with both men positioned as elite contenders or former champions
- Dvalishvili's comments highlight ongoing personal and regional rivalries that could shape bantamweight matchmaking, particularly around Nurmagomedov
- The back-and-forth between Tsarukyan and Topuria raises the possibility of a high-profile lightweight clash between two of the division's most dangerous fighters
