Arman Tsarukyan stated he hopes Justin Gaethje misses weight so he can fight Ilia Topuria instead, with the goal of "kicking him out of the UFC." Tsarukyan also declared he won't stop until he has at least five title defenses. Merab Dvalishvili commented that he has no problems with Dagestani fighters except Umar Nurmagomedov, whom he dislikes, while noting healthy competition among fighters from Armenia, Georgia, Chechnya, and Dagestan. Topuria, who recently updated his chest tattoo, called Tsarukyan "incredibly stupid" and said he would break his jaw in the first round if they fought. The exchanges reveal escalating tensions among top lightweights and featherweights.
Arman Tsarukyan has stirred up a heated round of verbal exchanges involving several top names at lightweight and featherweight, declaring he hopes champion Justin Gaethje misses weight at their scheduled meeting so the bout falls through and he can instead face Ilia Topuria — with the stated aim of running Topuria out of the UFC entirely. Tsarukyan also set himself a long-term benchmark, saying he will not stop competing until he has earned at least five title defenses.
Justin Gaethje, 37, holds the lightweight title with a career record of 28-5-0. Fighting out of Genesis Training Center, the American orthodox striker is one of the division's most aggressive finishers, averaging 6.48 significant strikes landed per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate — numbers that reflect his reputation for sustained, high-output pressure.
Ilia Topuria, ranked second at lightweight and first pound-for-pound in the AgentMMA database, carries a record of 17-1-0 and competes out of Spain at 29 years old. The orthodox fighter averages 4.81 significant strikes per minute and attempts 1.1 submissions per 15 minutes, showing a well-rounded attacking game. Topuria responded to Tsarukyan's comments with pointed language of his own, calling him "incredibly stupid" and claiming he would break his jaw inside the first round.
Bantamweight contender Merab Dvalishvili added another layer to the regional dynamic by remarking that he has no issues with fighters from Dagestan except for Umar Nurmagomedov, whom he singled out as a personal dislike. Nurmagomedov, ranked second at bantamweight and fighting out of Eagles MMA at 30 years old, holds a 20-1-0 record and lands takedowns at a rate of 4.03 per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan's preference for a Topuria fight rather than a Gaethje title shot would reshuffle lightweight title picture planning significantly
- Topuria is already ranked second at lightweight, meaning a Tsarukyan clash would carry serious divisional weight
- The broader regional rivalry between fighters from Armenia, Georgia, Chechnya, and Dagestan — acknowledged by Dvalishvili himself — is adding a charged atmosphere across two weight classes
