Arman Tsarukyan stated he wants Justin Gaethje to withdraw so he can fight Ilia Topuria and "kick him out of the UFC," vowing not to stop until he has at least five title defenses. Merab Dvalishvili commented that he has no issues with Dagestani fighters except Umar Nurmagomedov, emphasizing healthy competition among fighters from Armenia, Georgia, Chechnya, and Dagestan. Topuria responded aggressively to Tsarukyan, calling him "incredibly stupid" and saying he would "break his jaw in the first round" if they fought. Tsarukyan also discussed a potential bout with Alexander Volkanovski and laid out his perspective on Khamzat Chimaev's near-term prospects. Additionally, Demetrious Johnson predicted a confident victory for Chimaev over Sean O'Malley, and Benoit Saint-Denis appeared to call out Paddy Pimblett by posting roast beef on social media.
Arman Tsarukyan has made clear he wants Ilia Topuria next, publicly calling for Justin Gaethje to step aside so the two can settle their rivalry inside the cage. Topuria wasted no time responding, calling Tsarukyan "incredibly stupid" and promising to "break his jaw in the first round." The exchange is the latest chapter in what has become one of the most heated callout situations in the lightweight division.
Topuria, 29, holds a 17-1-0 record and is currently ranked second in the lightweight division and first in the pound-for-pound rankings. Fighting out of Spain, "El Matador" is one of the most active strikers in the game, landing 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy. He also attempts 1.1 submissions per 15 minutes, making him dangerous everywhere on the canvas.
Tsarukyan, for his part, went beyond just targeting Topuria, also discussing a potential matchup with Alexander Volkanovski and offering his take on Khamzat Chimaev's near-term future in the sport.
Chimaev entered the conversation through others as well. Demetrious Johnson predicted a confident win for "Borz" over Sean O'Malley. Chimaev, 32, is ranked first in the middleweight division and tenth pound-for-pound, carrying a 15-1-0 record. Fighting out of the UAE, he is a relentless wrestler who averages 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes and lands 4.04 significant strikes per minute at an imposing 60 percent accuracy.
Elsewhere in the thread of callouts, Merab Dvalishvili addressed regional tensions, saying he has no issues with fighters from Dagestan, Armenia, Georgia, or Chechnya — with one exception being Umar Nurmagomedov. The bantamweight contender Nurmagomedov, ranked second at 135 pounds, carries a 20-1-0 record and averages over four takedowns per 15 minutes while landing strikes at 56 percent accuracy.
Why it matters
- A Tsarukyan-Topuria fight would be a lightweight title eliminator or title bout given both men's standing in the division
- Topuria's aggressive public response raises the temperature on a potential booking
- Dvalishvili singling out Nurmagomedov signals a potential future bantamweight clash between two elite contenders
