Arman Tsarukyan stated he wants Diego Lopes to lose so he can fight Ilia Topuria and "kick him out of the UFC," adding that he won't stop until he has at least five title defenses. Merab Dvalishvili clarified he has no problems with Dagestani fighters except Umar Nurmagomedov, whom he simply doesn't like, emphasizing that Armenia, Georgia, Chechnya, and Dagestan all have hardworking people in healthy competition. Topuria responded by calling Tsarukyan "incredibly stupid" and claiming he would break his jaw in the first round if they fought. Tsarukyan also discussed potential matchups with Alexander Volkanovski and outlined prospects for Khamzat Chimaev. Demetrious Johnson predicted a confident victory for Chimaev over Sean O'Malley, and Benoit Saint-Denis teased a fight with Paddy Pimblett by posting roast beef on social media. Bogdan Guskov declined a fight with Baranievski.
Arman Tsarukyan made his ambitions clear this week, declaring he wants Diego Lopes to fall short so he can get his hands on Ilia Topuria and, in his words, "kick him out of the UFC." The Armenian lightweight also stated he won't rest until he has collected at least five title defenses.
Topuria, the current number-two ranked lightweight and the top pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC at 29 years old, fired back quickly. The Spain-based Georgian, who carries a 17-1 record and lands an impressive 4.81 significant strikes per minute, called Tsarukyan "incredibly stupid" and claimed he would break his jaw inside the first round. Tsarukyan also mentioned Alexander Volkanovski as a potential future opponent and weighed in on the outlook for Khamzat Chimaev.
Merab Dvalishvili used the moment to address the regional rivalries that often surface around Caucasian fighters in the UFC. He was careful to distinguish that his issue is not with Dagestani fighters broadly but specifically with bantamweight contender Umar Nurmagomedov, whom he simply said he does not like. Dvalishvili emphasized that Armenia, Georgia, Chechnya, and Dagestan all produce hardworking athletes engaged in healthy competition. Nurmagomedov, ranked second at bantamweight, holds a 20-1 record and lands takedowns at a rate of 4.03 per 15 minutes, making him one of the division's most complete threats at age 30.
Elsewhere in the week's social activity, Demetrious Johnson predicted a confident win for Khamzat Chimaev over Sean O'Malley. Chimaev, the top-ranked middleweight at 15-1, averages 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes and lands 60 percent of his significant strikes, the highest accuracy figure among the fighters mentioned here. Benoit Saint-Denis hinted at a future meeting with Paddy Pimblett through a social media post, while Bogdan Guskov confirmed he turned down a bout with Baranievski.
Why it matters
- A Tsarukyan-Topuria fight would be a high-stakes lightweight title clash between two fighters who clearly dislike each other
- Dvalishvili's comments add context to the fractured relationships inside a loaded bantamweight division featuring Nurmagomedov at number two
- Chimaev's middleweight positioning and outside interest from figures like Johnson keeps his name central to title conversation at 185 pounds
