Arman Tsarukyan stated he hopes Justin Gaethje withdraws so he can fight Ilia Topuria and "kick him out of the UFC," calling it his goal. Tsarukyan also declared he will only stop when he has a minimum of five UFC title defenses. Meanwhile, Merab Dvalishvili commented that he has no problems with Dagestani fighters except Umar Nurmagomedov, whom he simply dislikes, and noted healthy competition between fighters from Armenia, Georgia, Chechnya, and Dagestan. In response to Tsarukyan, Topuria called him "incredibly stupid" and claimed he would break Tsarukyan's jaw in the first round if they fought. Additional notes mention Benoit Saint-Denis announcing a fight with Paddy Pimblett and Bogdan Guskov declining a bout with Baranyewski. The post contains multiple fighter statements from recent interviews.
Arman Tsarukyan has made his ambitions clear, publicly targeting Ilia Topuria for a lightweight title fight and declaring he will not stop competing until he has defended a UFC championship at least five times. The Armenian contender also expressed hope that Justin Gaethje withdraws from any scheduled bout so the path to Topuria opens up, stating his goal is to "kick him out of the UFC."
Topuria, ranked second in the lightweight division and first pound-for-pound in the world, fired back sharply. The 29-year-old Spaniard, who carries a 17-1 record and lands an impressive 4.81 significant strikes per minute, dismissed Tsarukyan as "incredibly stupid" and claimed he would break the Armenian's jaw inside the first round.
Bantamweight Merab Dvalishvili also weighed in on the regional rivalries circulating through the sport, saying he holds no grudge against Dagestani fighters in general but singled out Umar Nurmagomedov as someone he simply dislikes. Nurmagomedov, ranked second at bantamweight and carrying a 20-1 record, is one of the division's most efficient strikers, connecting at 56 percent accuracy while also averaging over four takedowns per 15 minutes. Dvalishvili acknowledged the healthy competitive dynamic between fighters from Armenia, Georgia, Chechnya, and Dagestan.
On a separate note, Benoit Saint-Denis has announced a lightweight matchup against Paddy Pimblett. The 31-year-old Liverpudlian holds a 23-4 record and is ranked sixth in the lightweight division. Pimblett generates 5.49 significant strikes per minute and attempts 1.2 submissions per 15 minutes, making him one of the more active offensive fighters in the weight class.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan's callout puts direct pressure on the lightweight title picture with Topuria currently sitting at number two in the division
- The Dvalishvili-Nurmagomedov friction adds another layer to an already crowded bantamweight contender landscape
- A Saint-Denis versus Pimblett lightweight bout has significant ranking implications, with both fighters in striking range of the top five
