Arman Tsarukyan has stated he wants to fight Ilia Topuria if Justin Gaethje withdraws from his scheduled title bout, saying his goal is to kick Topuria out of the UFC. Tsarukyan also declared he will only stop when he has at least five UFC title defenses. Meanwhile, Merab Dvalishvili commented that he has no problems with Dagestani fighters except Umar Nurmagomedov, emphasizing healthy competition among fighters from Armenia, Georgia, Chechnya, and Dagestan. Topuria responded by calling Tsarukyan stupid and saying he would break his jaw in the first round if they fought. Additional news included Benoit Saint-Denis announcing a fight with Paddy Pimblett and Bogdan Guskov declining a bout with Baranyevski.
Arman Tsarukyan has publicly called for a fight with Ilia Topuria, stating he wants to step in as a replacement if Justin Gaethje pulls out of his scheduled lightweight title bout. Tsarukyan made his ambitions clear, saying his goal is to remove Topuria from the UFC entirely and that he will not stop competing until he has secured at least five UFC title defenses.
Topuria, ranked second in the lightweight division and first in the pound-for-pound standings, carries a 17-1-0 record. The 29-year-old Spanish fighter representing Climent Club is an active and aggressive competitor, averaging 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy, while also mixing in submission attempts at a rate of 1.1 per 15 minutes. He did not hold back in his response to Tsarukyan's callout, saying he would break his jaw in the first round.
Elsewhere in the lightweight division, ranked sixth contender Paddy Pimblett of England has a fight of his own taking shape. Benoit Saint-Denis has announced a matchup with the 31-year-old, who holds a 23-4-0 record and is one of the more active strikers in the division at 5.49 significant strikes per minute.
Bantamweight contender Merab Dvalishvili also weighed in on regional rivalries, saying he has no issues with fighters from Dagestan, Armenia, Chechnya, or Georgia — with the single exception of Umar Nurmagomedov. The 30-year-old Russian fighter, ranked second at bantamweight, holds a 20-1-0 record and has been one of the most precise strikers in the division, landing at a 56 percent accuracy rate while averaging over four takedowns per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan positioning himself as a Gaethje replacement keeps him relevant in the lightweight title picture
- A potential Tsarukyan vs. Topuria fight would pit two of the division's most dangerous finishers against each other
- Dvalishvili's comments signal continued friction at the top of the bantamweight division with Nurmagomedov
