Arman Tsarukyan stated he would like Justin Gaethje to pull out of his fight so he could face Ilia Topuria and 'kick him out of the UFC,' which he described as his goal. Tsarukyan also said he won't stop until he has at least five UFC title defenses. In the same compilation, Merab Dvalishvili commented on his relationships with fighters from various regions, stating he has no problems with Dagestani fighters except Umar Nurmagomedov, whom he dislikes. Topuria responded to Tsarukyan's comments by calling him stupid and saying if they meet in the octagon, he will break his jaw in the first round. Additionally, the post mentions 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 Baranyewski.
Arman Tsarukyan has publicly called for Justin Gaethje to withdraw from his upcoming fight, stating he wants the opportunity to face Ilia Topuria and, in his own words, "kick him out of the UFC." Tsarukyan added that his broader ambition is to claim the title and defend it at least five times.
Topuria, currently ranked second in the lightweight division and sitting atop the pound-for-pound rankings at 29 years old, did not let the comments pass. The Spanish fighter, who carries a 17-1-0 record, fired back by calling Tsarukyan stupid and warning that if they meet in the octagon, he will break his jaw in the first round. Topuria has been one of the most active strikers in the division, landing 4.81 significant strikes per minute with a 48 percent accuracy rate, and has averaged 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes throughout his career.
Separately in the same media compilation, Merab Dvalishvili addressed his relationships across different regional fight camps, saying he has no issues with Dagestani fighters aside from one exception — bantamweight contender Umar Nurmagomedov, whom he said he dislikes. Nurmagomedov, ranked second at bantamweight and just 30 years old, holds a 20-1-0 record and has established himself as one of the division's most dangerous technical fighters, landing takedowns at a rate of 4.03 per 15 minutes and connecting on 56 percent of his significant strikes.
On the lightweight scene, Benoit Saint-Denis appears to have announced a fight against sixth-ranked Paddy Pimblett through an unconventional channel, posting an image of roast beef — a nod to English cuisine — on social media. Pimblett, 31, fights out of Liverpool and carries a 23-4-0 record, averaging 5.49 significant strikes per minute with a 73-inch reach. No official confirmation from the UFC has been reported.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan's callout puts public pressure on the lightweight title picture, with Topuria now at 155 pounds
- A Dvalishvili-Nurmagomedov rivalry adds further intrigue to a stacked bantamweight division
- A potential Saint-Denis vs. Pimblett matchup would shake up the lightweight rankings at six and below
