Arman Tsarukyan has stated he wants Justin Gaethje to withdraw so he can fight Ilia Topuria and "kick him out of the UFC," declaring this his ultimate goal. Tsarukyan also said he won't stop until he has at least five UFC title defenses. Merab Dvalishvili clarified he has no issues with Dagestani fighters except Umar Nurmagomedov, whom he simply dislikes, and expressed willingness to visit Dagestan, emphasizing healthy competition among fighters from Armenia, Georgia, Chechnya, and Dagestan. Topuria, who has updated his chest tattoo, responded aggressively to Tsarukyan, calling him unintelligent and claiming he would break his jaw in the first round, while dismissing him as not being on his level or financially independent. Additional notes mention Tsarukyan discussing a potential Volkanovski bout, predictions about Chimaev versus O'Malley, Benoit Saint-Denis announcing a fight with Paddy Pimblett via a roast beef social media post, and Bogdan Guskov declining a fight with Barancewicz.
Arman Tsarukyan has publicly called for Justin Gaethje to step aside so he can face Ilia Topuria, stating his explicit goal is to "kick him out of the UFC." Tsarukyan also declared he will not stop competing until he has secured at least five UFC title defenses, signaling long-term championship ambitions at lightweight.
Topuria, ranked second at lightweight and first in the pound-for-pound rankings, did not let the callout go unanswered. The 29-year-old Spanish fighter fired back sharply, calling Tsarukyan unintelligent and claiming he would break his jaw inside the first round, while also dismissing him as someone who is not on his level and lacks financial independence. Topuria carries a 17-1-0 record and averages 4.81 significant strikes per minute, with a submission attempt rate of 1.1 per 15 minutes that underlines his finishing ability beyond just his striking.
Merab Dvalishvili also entered the conversation, clarifying that he holds no animosity toward Dagestani fighters as a group. He singled out Umar Nurmagomedov as the one exception, citing simple personal dislike rather than regional rivalry. Nurmagomedov, ranked second at bantamweight and fighting out of Eagles MMA, holds a 20-1-0 record and lands takedowns at a rate of 4.03 per 15 minutes, making him one of the division's most complete threats. Dvalishvili framed the broader dynamic as healthy competition among fighters from Armenia, Georgia, Chechnya, and Dagestan.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan's callout puts direct pressure on the lightweight title picture, with Topuria currently sitting at number two in the division
- The Dvalishvili-Nurmagomedov tension adds a personal dimension to what is already a stacked bantamweight ranking
- Benoit Saint-Denis confirmed a matchup with Paddy Pimblett, adding another high-profile lightweight bout to the near-term calendar
- Khamzat Chimaev, the top-ranked middleweight at 15-1-0 with a 60 percent striking accuracy, was also mentioned in predictions involving Sean O'Malley
