Arman Tsarukyan stated that he would like Justin Gaethje to miss weight so he could 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 related comments, Merab Dvalishvili said he has no problems with Dagestani fighters except Umar Nurmagomedov, whom he simply doesn't like. Topuria, who updated his chest tattoo, responded by calling Tsarukyan stupid and saying he would break his jaw in the first round if they fought. The post also mentioned that Benoit Saint-Denis announced a fight with Paddy Pimblett by posting roast beef on social media, and that Bogdan Guskov declined a fight with Baraniewski.
Arman Tsarukyan made clear this week that his preferred path to the lightweight title runs straight through Ilia Topuria, going so far as to say he hopes Justin Gaethje misses weight at their upcoming fight so the door swings open for him to step in and face the Georgian-Spanish star instead.
Tsarukyan, who did not have verified stats included in this report, stated that eliminating Topuria from the UFC is a personal goal, and added that he won't consider his career complete until he has recorded at least five UFC title defenses — a statement of remarkable long-range ambition from a fighter who has yet to win the belt.
Topuria, ranked second at lightweight and sitting at the top of the pound-for-pound rankings at 29 years old, did not take the comments quietly. The Spaniard fired back publicly, calling Tsarukyan stupid and claiming he would break his jaw inside the first round if they ever shared the octagon. Topuria carries a 17-1 record and has shown elite output, averaging 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy, with submission attempts mixed in at 1.1 per 15 minutes.
Elsewhere in the social media news cycle, Merab Dvalishvili weighed in on regional rivalries, saying he has no issues with Dagestani fighters as a group but singled out bantamweight contender Umar Nurmagomedov — ranked second at 135 pounds — as someone he simply does not like. Nurmagomedov, 30, carries a 20-1 record and is one of the division's most complete fighters, averaging 4.03 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside a 56 percent striking accuracy.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan's comments signal that the lightweight title picture remains volatile and personal rivalries are shaping potential matchups.
- A Topuria versus Tsarukyan fight would carry significant divisional stakes, with both men positioned near the top of the 155-pound rankings.
- Dvalishvili publicly distancing himself from Nurmagomedov hints at a potential future bantamweight rivalry worth watching.
- Sixth-ranked lightweight Paddy Pimblett, 31, has a fight with Benoit Saint-Denis reportedly taking shape after Saint-Denis announced it via social media.
