Arman Tsarukyan stated he wants Justin Gaethje to withdraw so he can fight Ilia Topuria, claiming he would 'kick him out of the UFC.' Tsarukyan also said he will only stop when he has at least five UFC title defenses. Merab Dvalishvili commented that he has no problems with Dagestani fighters except Umar Nurmagomedov, saying 'I just don't like this guy,' while emphasizing healthy competition between fighters from Armenia, Georgia, Chechnya, and Dagestan. Topuria, who recently updated his chest tattoo, harshly criticized Tsarukyan, calling him 'a complete idiot' and claiming he would break his jaw in the first round if they fought. Additional updates include Tsarukyan discussing a potential Volkanovski fight, Demetrious Johnson predicting a dominant Chimaev victory over O'Malley, and Benoit Saint-Denis apparently announcing a fight with Paddy Pimblett.
Arman Tsarukyan has set his sights on Ilia Topuria, stating publicly that he wants Justin Gaethje to step aside so he can fight the lightweight titleholder, boasting he would "kick him out of the UFC." Tsarukyan also declared his ambitions extend well beyond a single championship, saying he will not stop until he has defended a UFC title at least five times. Separately, bantamweight contender Merab Dvalishvili weighed in on regional rivalries, saying he has no issues with fighters from Dagestan except Umar Nurmagomedov, whom he singled out with a blunt "I just don't like this guy," while otherwise praising the competitive spirit among fighters from Armenia, Georgia, Chechnya, and Dagestan.
Topuria, ranked second at lightweight and first in the pound-for-pound standings with a 17-1-0 record, did not hold back in response. The 29-year-old Spanish-Georgian fighter, who lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute and also attempts 1.1 submissions per 15 minutes, called Tsarukyan "a complete idiot" and claimed he would break his jaw inside the first round.
Nurmagomedov, the fighter at the center of Dvalishvili's comments, holds a 20-1-0 record and sits ranked second in the bantamweight division. The 30-year-old Russian lands 3.86 significant strikes per minute at a 56 percent accuracy rate and averages over four takedowns per 15 minutes, making him one of the more complete fighters in his weight class.
Elsewhere in the news cycle, Tsarukyan was also reported to have discussed a potential matchup with Alexander Volkanovski. Demetrious Johnson predicted a dominant performance from Khamzat Chimaev over Sean O'Malley. Chimaev, the top-ranked middleweight at 15-1-0, carries a 60 percent striking accuracy rate and a remarkable 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes. Benoit Saint-Denis also apparently announced a fight with Paddy Pimblett, though further details on that booking were not confirmed.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan calling out Topuria adds pressure to the lightweight title picture with Gaethje currently in the queue
- Dvalishvili's comments on Nurmagomedov hint at a potential future bantamweight rivalry with clear personal stakes
- Topuria's sharp public response raises the profile of a Tsarukyan matchup as a potential fan-driven demand
