Arman Tsarukyan has stated he wants Justin Gaethje to withdraw so he can fight Ilia Topuria, with the goal of removing Topuria from the UFC. The lightweight contender declared he won't stop until he achieves at least five title defenses in the UFC. Meanwhile, Merab Dvalishvili commented that he has no issues with Dagestani fighters except Umar Nurmagomedov, whom he specifically dislikes, while expressing respect for the competitive spirit among fighters from Armenia, Georgia, Chechnya, and Dagestan. In response to Tsarukyan, Topuria called him stupid and said he would break his jaw in the first round if they fought. Additional news included Benoit Saint-Denis posting a roast beef image to suggest a fight with Paddy Pimblett, and Bogdan Guskov declining a fight with Baraniewicz.
Arman Tsarukyan has made his ambitions clear, publicly calling for Justin Gaethje to step aside so he can secure a lightweight title shot against Ilia Topuria — and declaring he intends to rack up at least five UFC title defenses once he gets there.
Tsarukyan, one of the most dangerous contenders in the lightweight division, has been vocal about his desire to face Topuria and, as he put it, remove the champion from the UFC entirely. The Armenian fighter's stated goal of five or more defenses signals a long-term vision at 155 pounds, not merely a single title chase.
Topuria, ranked second at lightweight and currently sitting at the top of the pound-for-pound rankings at 17-1-0, did not take the comments quietly. The 29-year-old Spaniard fired back, calling Tsarukyan stupid and promising to break his jaw in the first round if the two ever share the octagon. Topuria averages 4.81 significant strikes per minute and attempts 1.1 submissions per 15 minutes, making him a well-rounded threat at both range and on the mat.
Elsewhere in the news cycle, bantamweight contender Merab Dvalishvili addressed the regional rivalries running through the UFC's Eastern European and Caucasian fighter community. He said he holds no particular grievance toward Dagestani fighters as a group, singling out only second-ranked bantamweight Umar Nurmagomedov — 20-1-0 and one of the division's most accurate strikers at 56 percent — as someone he genuinely dislikes. Dvalishvili expressed broader respect for the competitive culture shared among fighters from Armenia, Georgia, Chechnya, and Dagestan.
On the lighter side of the news, lightweight contender Benoit Saint-Denis took to social media to post a roast beef image, an apparent hint at a desired matchup with sixth-ranked Paddy Pimblett. The Liverpool native carries a 23-4-0 record and leads the lightweight division's ranked fighters in significant strikes landed per minute at 5.49. Separately, light heavyweight Bogdan Guskov declined a proposed bout against Baraniewicz.
Why it matters
- A Tsarukyan-Topuria matchup would be a top-two lightweight collision with the title on the line
- Topuria's pound-for-pound status means any challenger entering that fight carries enormous divisional stakes
- The Dvalishvili-Nurmagomedov tension adds a personal edge to what is already a compelling bantamweight picture
