Lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan has expressed his desire for Justin Gaethje to pull out so he can fight Ilia Topuria, claiming he would "kick him out of the UFC." Tsarukyan stated he won't stop until he has at least five UFC title defenses. Meanwhile, Merab Dvalishvili clarified he has no issues with Dagestani fighters except Umar Nurmagomedov, emphasizing healthy competition among fighters from Armenia, Georgia, Chechnya, and Dagestan. Topuria responded by calling Tsarukyan "incredibly stupid" and threatening to break his jaw in the first round if they fight. The post also mentions Benoit Saint-Denis posting a roast beef photo (an English dish), apparently calling out Paddy Pimblett. Additional notes include Demetrious Johnson predicting Khamzat Chimaev would defeat Sean Strickland, and Bogdan Guskov declining a fight with Baraniewicz.
Lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan has made clear he wants a shot at Ilia Topuria, going so far as to say he hopes Justin Gaethje withdraws from a potential matchup with the champion so that he can step in and, in his own words, remove Topuria from the UFC entirely. Tsarukyan also outlined an ambitious long-term goal, stating he will not stop competing until he has made at least five UFC title defenses.
Tsarukyan's target, Ilia Topuria, currently sits at number two in the lightweight rankings and holds the pound-for-pound number one spot in the AgentMMA database. The 29-year-old Spanish fighter carries a record of 17-1-0 and lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy, while also averaging 1.96 takedowns and 1.1 submission attempts per fifteen minutes — a well-rounded profile that underscores his status as one of the sport's most complete fighters. Topuria did not take Tsarukyan's comments lightly, calling him "incredibly stupid" and warning that he would break his jaw inside the opening round.
Elsewhere in the coverage, bantamweight contender Merab Dvalishvili addressed the regional dynamics among fighters from the Caucasus and Central Asia, clarifying that he harbors no ill will toward Dagestani fighters broadly — his only notable tension is with number-two-ranked bantamweight Umar Nurmagomedov, a 30-year-old Russian fighter out of Eagles MMA who owns a 20-1-0 record and averages an imposing 4.03 takedowns per fifteen minutes at 56 percent striking accuracy. Dvalishvili framed that rivalry as healthy competition rather than personal animosity.
Why it matters
- A Tsarukyan-Topuria fight would be a number-one-contender or title clash at 155 pounds, with major divisional implications
- Topuria's all-around skill set and pound-for-pound ranking make him a uniquely difficult stylistic challenge for any contender
- Dvalishvili's comments add further intrigue to the crowded bantamweight division, where Nurmagomedov's elite grappling already makes him a threat to any opponent
