Arman Tsarukyan stated he would like Justin Gaethje to withdraw so he could fight Ilia Topuria and 'kick him out of the UFC,' calling that his goal. Tsarukyan also said he won't stop until he has at least five UFC title defenses. Meanwhile, Merab Dvalishvili commented on having no problems with Dagestani fighters except Umar Nurmagomedov, whom he simply doesn't like, while praising the healthy competition among fighters from Armenia, Georgia, Chechnya, and Dagestan. Topuria responded to Tsarukyan with harsh words, calling him stupid and predicting he would break his jaw in the first round if they ever fought. The post also mentions Benoit Saint-Denis posting a roast beef image, seemingly calling out Paddy Pimblett, and notes that Bogdan Guskov declined a fight with Baraniewski.
Arman Tsarukyan has made his ambitions clear, publicly stating he wants Justin Gaethje to step aside so he can fight Ilia Topuria — declaring his goal to "kick him out of the UFC" and vowing not to stop competing until he has secured at least five UFC title defenses.
Topuria, the number-two ranked lightweight at 17-1-0, holds the pound-for-pound top spot in the UFC rankings and shows no signs of backing down. The 29-year-old from Spain fights out of Climent Club and carries a striking output of 4.81 significant strikes per minute. He fired back at Tsarukyan with sharp words, calling him stupid and predicting he would break his jaw inside the first round if the two ever shared the octagon.
The back-and-forth sits within a broader conversation about regional rivalries and competition. Bantamweight contender Merab Dvalishvili weighed in on the dynamic between fighters from Armenia, Georgia, Chechnya, and Dagestan, praising the competitive spirit among that group while singling out one exception — number-two ranked bantamweight Umar Nurmagomedov, the 30-year-old Russian who sits at 20-1-0, whom Dvalishvili said he simply does not like. Nurmagomedov averages an impressive 4.03 takedowns per 15 minutes and lands 56 percent of his significant strikes.
Elsewhere in the social media chatter, Benoit Saint-Denis posted a roast beef image widely interpreted as a callout directed at ranked lightweight Paddy Pimblett. The 31-year-old from Liverpool sits sixth in the lightweight division at 23-4-0, averaging a division-high 5.49 significant strikes per minute and carrying a 73-inch reach. Separately, Bogdan Guskov declined an offered fight against Baraniewski.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan positioning himself as a Topuria challenger adds pressure to the lightweight title picture with Gaethje already in the mix
- Dvalishvili's comments about Umar Nurmagomedov signal potential tension at bantamweight between two top-three contenders
- A possible Saint-Denis versus Pimblett matchup would pit two aggressive strikers against each other with clear rankings implications at lightweight
