Arman Tsarukyan stated he wants Justin Gaethje to pull out so he can fight and "kick Topuria out of the UFC," declaring this his goal and saying he won't stop until he has at least five title defenses. Merab Dvalishvili said he has no problems with Dagestani fighters except Umar Nurmagomedov, emphasizing that fighters from Armenia, Georgia, Chechnya, and Dagestan are all hardworking and friendly with healthy competition between them. Ilia Topuria, who updated his chest tattoo, launched harsh criticism at Tsarukyan, calling him unintelligent and predicting he would break his jaw in the first round if they fought. Benoit Saint-Denis announced a fight with Paddy Pimblett by posting roast beef (an English dish) on social media. Bogdan Guskov declined a fight with Baranyevski, and Demetrious Johnson predicted a confident victory for Khamzat Chimaev over Sean Strickland.
Arman Tsarukyan made his ambitions clear in recent media activity, declaring that he wants Justin Gaethje to withdraw from his upcoming commitment so Tsarukyan can step in, fight Ilia Topuria, and, in his words, "kick Topuria out of the UFC." Tsarukyan added that he will not stop competing until he has accumulated at least five title defenses.
Topuria, ranked second in the lightweight division and first in the pound-for-pound rankings with a 17-1-0 record, did not stay quiet. The 29-year-old Spanish-Georgian fighter fired back at Tsarukyan, calling him unintelligent and predicting he would break his jaw inside the first round if the two were ever matched. Topuria lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy and averages over one submission attempt per 15 minutes, making him a well-rounded threat at 155 pounds.
Merab Dvalishvili also weighed in on regional rivalries, stating he holds no ill will toward fighters from Dagestan, Armenia, Georgia, or Chechnya, describing the shared culture as one of hard work and friendly competition. The one exception he noted was Umar Nurmagomedov. The 30-year-old Russian stands ranked second in the bantamweight division at 20-1-0, boasting a 56 percent striking accuracy and an elite 4.03 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Elsewhere, Benoit Saint-Denis confirmed a forthcoming bout with Paddy Pimblett through a playful social media post featuring roast beef, a nod to Pimblett's English background.
Bogdan Guskov passed on a proposed matchup with Baranyevski, while mixed martial arts legend Demetrious Johnson publicly expressed confidence that Khamzat Chimaev would defeat middleweight champion Sean Strickland. Strickland, 35, carries a 31-7-0 record and throws a high volume of 6.04 significant strikes per minute, but Johnson sees the matchup favoring Chimaev.
Why it matters
- A Tsarukyan-Topuria fight would be a No. 1 contender clash with massive lightweight title implications
- Topuria's public rebuttal raises the stakes and the profile of a potential booking
- The Saint-Denis and Pimblett matchup adds movement to a stacked lightweight landscape
- Dvalishvili's exception for Nurmagomedov hints at a potential future bantamweight rivalry
