In a detailed summary post, Arman Tsarukyan stated he wants Justin Gaethje to drop out so he can fight Ilia Topuria and "kick him out of the UFC," calling it his goal. Tsarukyan also declared he won't stop until he has at least five UFC title defenses. Meanwhile, Merab Dvalishvili said he has no problems with Dagestani fighters except Umar Nurmagomedov, emphasizing healthy competition among fighters from Armenia, Georgia, Chechnya, and Dagestan. Topuria, who updated his chest tattoo, fired back calling Tsarukyan "incredibly stupid" and threatened to break his jaw in the first round if they fight. The post also mentioned Benoit Saint-Denis announced a fight with Paddy Pimblett by posting roast beef (an English dish) on social media, and that Bogdan Guskov declined a fight with Baraniewicz.
Arman Tsarukyan has publicly called for a fight with Ilia Topuria, urging Justin Gaethje to step aside so the two can meet, with Tsarukyan declaring his intention to "kick him out of the UFC." The Armenian fighter also set a personal benchmark, stating he will not stop competing until he has recorded at least five UFC title defenses. None of these matchups or arrangements have been officially confirmed.
Topuria, 29, is currently ranked second in the lightweight division and sits atop the pound-for-pound rankings with a professional record of 17-1-0. Fighting out of Spain under the Climent Club banner, "El Matador" lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute and attempts 1.1 submissions per 15 minutes. He did not let Tsarukyan's comments go unanswered, firing back and calling the Armenian "incredibly stupid," adding that he would break his jaw in the first round if they were ever matched up.
Elsewhere in the social media cycle, Merab Dvalishvili weighed in on regional rivalries, noting he has no issues with fighters from Armenia, Georgia, Chechnya, or Dagestan — singling out only Umar Nurmagomedov as an exception. Nurmagomedov, 30, is ranked second at bantamweight and fights out of Eagles MMA in Russia. He carries a 20-1-0 record and is a highly efficient wrestler, averaging 4.03 takedowns per 15 minutes while posting a striking accuracy of 56 percent.
On another front, Benoit Saint-Denis signaled a forthcoming bout with Paddy Pimblett through a social media post featuring roast beef, a nod to English cuisine. Pimblett, ranked sixth at lightweight, holds a 23-4-0 record and fights out of Next Generation MMA Liverpool. "The Baddy" is one of the division's higher-volume strikers, landing 5.49 significant strikes per minute. That pairing has not been officially announced.
Why it matters
- A Tsarukyan-Topuria fight would be a high-stakes lightweight title clash between two of the division's most prominent names
- Topuria's pound-for-pound status and Tsarukyan's title ambitions make any confirmed matchup between them an immediate divisional headliner
- A Saint-Denis vs. Pimblett booking would pit two aggressive, finish-seeking lightweights against each other with rankings implications in a crowded division
