Arman Tsarukyan stated he would like Justin Gaethje to withdraw so he could fight Ilia Topuria and "kick him out of the UFC," calling it his personal goal. The lightweight contender declared he will only stop when he has a minimum of five UFC title defenses. Meanwhile, Merab Dvalishvili clarified he has no problems with Dagestani fighters except Umar Nurmagomedov, whom he simply dislikes, emphasizing that fighters from Armenia, Georgia, Chechnya, and Dagestan are hardworking and maintain friendly competition. In response to Tsarukyan, Topuria called the Armenian "incredibly stupid" and said he would break his jaw in the first round if they fight, dismissing him as irrelevant and claiming he spends his father's money rather than his own earnings. The post also mentioned that Benoit Saint-Denis announced a fight with Paddy Pimblett by posting roast beef (an English dish) on social media, and that Bogdan Guskov declined a fight with Baranyewski.
Arman Tsarukyan has turned up the volume on his rivalry with Ilia Topuria, publicly stating he wants Justin Gaethje to step aside so he can face the Georgian-Spanish star and, in his words, "kick him out of the UFC." The Armenian lightweight contender also declared he will not stop competing until he has defended a UFC title at least five times.
Tsarukyan is chasing the lightweight crown currently held by Topuria, who carries a 17-1-0 record and sits ranked second at lightweight while also holding the number-one spot in the pound-for-pound rankings. The 29-year-old, who fights out of Spain under the Climent Club banner, did not take the callout lightly. Topuria fired back, calling Tsarukyan "incredibly stupid," promising to break his jaw inside the first round, and dismissing him as irrelevant — adding a personal jab that the Armenian spends his father's money rather than his own earnings. Topuria averages 4.81 significant strikes per minute and attempts 1.1 submissions per fifteen minutes, underlining the finishing threat he presents across all ranges.
Elsewhere in the story, Merab Dvalishvili addressed the regional dynamics inside MMA's Caucasus and Dagestan communities. He stressed that he holds no ill will toward fighters from Armenia, Georgia, Chechnya, or Dagestan, framing those rivalries as friendly competition among hardworking athletes. His one stated exception is Umar Nurmagomedov, the 30-year-old Russian bantamweight ranked second in his division with a 20-1-0 record and a stifling 4.03 takedowns per fifteen minutes — whom Dvalishvili said he simply dislikes.
On the matchmaking front, Benoit Saint-Denis signaled an upcoming bout with Paddy Pimblett by posting an image of roast beef on social media, a nod to the Liverpudlian's English roots. Pimblett, 31, holds a 23-4-0 record and sits sixth in the lightweight rankings, generating a high-volume 5.49 significant strikes per minute. Separately, Bogdan Guskov declined a proposed fight with Baranyewski.
Why it matters
- A Tsarukyan-Topuria fight would unify two of the lightweight division's biggest draws and settle a heated personal feud
- Topuria's pound-for-pound status means any challenger must clear an exceptionally high bar
- A Saint-Denis vs. Pimblett booking would inject fresh energy into the lightweight top-ten picture
