Multiple UFC fighters made notable statements in recent interviews. Arman Tsarukyan stated he would like Justin Gaethje to pull out so he could fight and 'kick Topuria out of the UFC', and vowed to continue until he has at least five title defenses. Merab Dvalishvili said he has no problems with Dagestani fighters except Umar Nurmagomedov, whom he dislikes, while emphasizing healthy competition among fighters from Armenia, Georgia, Chechnya and Dagestan. Ilia Topuria, who updated his chest tattoo, called Tsarukyan 'incredibly stupid' and said he would break his jaw in the first round if they fought. Additional news included Benoit Saint-Denis posting a roast beef photo apparently challenging Paddy Pimblett, and Bogdan Guskov declining a fight with Baranyevski.
Arman Tsarukyan, Ilia Topuria, Merab Dvalishvili, and several other UFC fighters made headlines this week after a wave of candid interviews produced sharp exchanges and pointed callouts across multiple divisions.
Tsarukyan made clear he has Topuria firmly in his sights, stating he hopes Justin Gaethje withdraws from their scheduled bout so he can instead face the Georgian-Spanish star and, in his words, kick him out of the UFC. The Armenian lightweight also expressed ambitions well beyond a single title shot, vowing to rack up at least five championship defenses before he is finished.
Topuria, ranked second in the lightweight division and currently sitting atop the pound-for-pound rankings at 17-1-0, was dismissive of Tsarukyan's comments. The 29-year-old responded by calling his rival incredibly stupid and claiming he would break his jaw inside the first round. Topuria, who lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy, made the remarks around the same time he revealed an updated chest tattoo.
Merab Dvalishvili added another layer to the regional tensions running through UFC fight camps, saying he holds no ill will toward fighters from Dagestan, Chechnya, Armenia, or Georgia — with one specific exception. The bantamweight contender singled out Umar Nurmagomedov, ranked second in the bantamweight division at 20-1-0, as the one fighter he genuinely dislikes, framing the rest of the cross-regional competition as healthy rivalry.
Nurmagomedov, a 30-year-old Russian who lands 3.86 significant strikes per minute and averages 4.03 takedowns per 15 minutes, has established himself as one of the premier finishers in the 135-pound division.
Elsewhere, Benoit Saint-Denis posted a roast beef photo in an apparent callout of sixth-ranked lightweight Paddy Pimblett, who carries a 23-4-0 record and produces a notable 5.49 significant strikes per minute. Separately, Bogdan Guskov declined a proposed matchup against Baranyevski.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan's callout puts pressure on the lightweight title picture if the Gaethje bout falls through
- Topuria's response suggests a Tsarukyan-Topuria clash carries genuine personal animosity
- Dvalishvili's comments about Umar Nurmagomedov add friction to an already competitive bantamweight landscape
