Arman Tsarukyan stated he wants Justin Gaethje to pull out so he can fight Ilia Topuria and "kick him out of the UFC," adding he won't stop until he has at least five UFC title defenses. Merab Dvalishvili said he has no problems with Dagestani fighters except Umar Nurmagomedov, emphasizing that Armenia, Georgia, Chechnya, and Dagestan are all hardworking regions with healthy competition. Topuria, who recently updated his chest tattoo, responded by calling Tsarukyan stupid and claiming he would break his jaw in the first round, also criticizing him for spending his father's money rather than his own. Additionally, Benoit Saint-Denis announced a fight with Paddy Pimblett by posting roast beef on social media, Demetrious Johnson predicted a confident Chimaev victory over O'Malley, and Bogdan Guskov declined a fight with Baraniewicz.
A wave of verbal sparring between Arman Tsarukyan, Ilia Topuria, and Merab Dvalishvili dominated MMA social media on April 21, with the lightweight and bantamweight divisions both caught up in escalating tensions.
Tsarukyan made clear he wants Justin Gaethje to withdraw from his scheduled bout so that he can step in and face Topuria, going as far as saying he wants to "kick him out of the UFC." The Armenian lightweight also declared he will not rest until he has earned at least five UFC title defenses, underscoring his long-term ambitions at 155 pounds.
Topuria, currently ranked second in the lightweight division and first in the pound-for-pound standings with a 17-1-0 record, fired back quickly. The 29-year-old Spanish fighter called Tsarukyan stupid and claimed he would break his jaw inside the opening round, adding a personal jab about Tsarukyan spending his father's money. Topuria averages 4.81 significant strikes per minute and attempts 1.1 submissions per 15 minutes, making him dangerous in multiple areas.
Dvalishvili added a regional dimension to the storyline, saying he has no issues with fighters from Dagestan, Chechnya, Georgia, or Armenia — framing the relationship between those regions as one of healthy competition — with one pointed exception: Umar Nurmagomedov. The Russian bantamweight, ranked second in his division at 20-1-0, lands 3.86 significant strikes per minute and averages over four takedowns per 15 minutes, making him one of the most complete fighters in the weight class at 30 years old.
Elsewhere in the news cycle, Benoit Saint-Denis announced a fight against Paddy Pimblett through an unconventional social media post featuring roast beef, Demetrious Johnson expressed confidence in Khamzat Chimaev defeating Sean O'Malley, and Bogdan Guskov turned down a proposed matchup with Baraniewicz.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan publicly lobbying for a Topuria fight adds pressure to the lightweight title picture ahead of any Gaethje scheduling developments
- Dvalishvili singling out Umar Nurmagomedov keeps a potential bantamweight rivalry in focus
- Chimaev, the top-ranked middleweight at 15-1-0 with a 60 percent striking accuracy and 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes, has heavyweight attention heading into his next assignment
