Ilia Topuria delivered harsh criticism of Arman Tsarukyan during recent comments. Topuria stated he wants to fight Tsarukyan and kick him out of the UFC, calling Tsarukyan stupid and saying he would break his jaw in the first round if they meet. Topuria also updated his chest tattoo. Tsarukyan responded by saying he would stop only when he has at least five UFC title defenses, and that he wants to fight Topuria after Justin Gaethje pulls out. 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.
Ilia Topuria unleashed a sharp verbal attack on Arman Tsarukyan this week, declaring he wants to fight the Armenian lightweight contender and, in his words, kick him out of the UFC — promising to break Tsarukyan's jaw in the first round if the two ever share the octagon.
Topuria, known as El Matador, holds a 17-1-0 record and currently sits ranked second in the lightweight division, also carrying the number one pound-for-pound ranking. The 29-year-old Spanish-Georgian fighter trains out of Climent Club and is one of the most active strikers in the division, averaging 4.81 significant strikes per minute with a submission threat that remains ever-present at 1.1 attempts per 15 minutes.
Tsarukyan, for his part, responded with ambition rather than anger, stating he intends to accumulate at least five UFC title defenses before anything else — and that a bout with Topuria becomes a priority only after lightweight champion Justin Gaethje withdraws. Gaethje, 37, carries a 28-5-0 record and is among the most prolific strikers in the sport, landing 6.48 significant strikes per minute with 58 percent accuracy.
Adding another layer to the regional rivalry narrative, bantamweight contender Merab Dvalishvili weighed in on the broader dynamic among fighters from Georgia, Armenia, Chechnya, and Dagestan. Dvalishvili said he has no issues with Dagestani fighters in general, singling out only Umar Nurmagomedov as a source of tension. Nurmagomedov, ranked second at bantamweight for Eagles MMA, holds a 20-1-0 record at 30 years old and is a suffocating presence with 4.03 takedowns per 15 minutes and 56 percent striking accuracy.
Why it matters
- Topuria's comments raise the possibility of a high-profile lightweight clash with serious divisional implications
- Tsarukyan's insistence on title defenses first suggests a crowded queue forming behind Gaethje
- The Dvalishvili-Nurmagomedov tension adds friction to the broader Caucasus-region fighter bloc that has reshaped multiple UFC divisions
