Arman Tsarukyan stated he hopes Justin Gaethje misses weight so he can fight Ilia Topuria and "kick him out of the UFC," calling it his goal. Tsarukyan also said he won't stop until he has at least five UFC title defenses. In the same summary post, Merab Dvalishvili commented he has no problems with Dagestani fighters except Umar Nurmagomedov, whom he simply doesn't like, but emphasized healthy competition among fighters from Armenia, Georgia, Chechnya, and Dagestan. Topuria responded by harshly criticizing Tsarukyan, calling him stupid and claiming he spends his father's money. Other brief mentions include Tsarukyan discussing a potential Volkanovski fight, Demetrious Johnson predicting Chimaev over O'Malley, Benoit Saint-Denis announcing a Pimblett fight with a roast beef post, and Bogdan Guskov declining a fight with Baranievski.
Arman Tsarukyan has made his intentions clear, publicly stating he hopes Justin Gaethje misses weight so that he can step in, face Ilia Topuria for the lightweight title, and, in his own words, "kick him out of the UFC." Tsarukyan also outlined a broader ambition, saying he will not stop competing until he has secured at least five UFC title defenses.
Topuria, the current lightweight champion ranked second in the division and first pound-for-pound, wasted no time firing back. The 29-year-old Spanish-Georgian fighter, who carries a 17-1 record and lands a sharp 4.81 significant strikes per minute, dismissed Tsarukyan with pointed personal criticism, calling him stupid and accusing him of living off his father's money.
The social media exchange drew in Merab Dvalishvili, who weighed in on regional rivalries across the Caucasus. The Georgian bantamweight said he has no issues with fighters from Dagestan as a whole but singled out Umar Nurmagomedov as someone he simply does not like, while stressing he otherwise embraces healthy competition among fighters from Armenia, Georgia, Chechnya, and Dagestan. Nurmagomedov, ranked second at bantamweight, is 30 years old, holds a 20-1 record, and is one of the division's most well-rounded threats, averaging four takedowns per fifteen minutes alongside a 56-percent striking accuracy.
Elsewhere in the same cycle of social activity, Khamzat Chimaev received a notable endorsement from Demetrious Johnson, who predicted the Middleweight's success against Sean O'Malley. Chimaev, ranked first at middleweight and tenth pound-for-pound, carries a 15-1 record and averages 5.29 takedowns per fifteen minutes. Benoit Saint-Denis announced a fight against Paddy Pimblett with a characteristically colorful social post, and Bogdan Guskov publicly declined a matchup with Baranievski.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan positioning himself as the backup or next challenger keeps pressure on the lightweight title picture ahead of any Gaethje bout
- The Topuria-Tsarukyan war of words elevates a potential future matchup regardless of what happens next in the division
- Dvalishvili's comments on Nurmagomedov add a layer of genuine rivalry to an already talent-rich Caucasus fighter pipeline
