Arman Tsarukyan stated he would like to fight Ilia Topuria if Justin Gaethje pulls out, adding that his goal is to "kick Topuria out of the UFC" and secure at least five title defenses. Merab Dvalishvili said he has no issues with Dagestani fighters except Umar Nurmagomedov, emphasizing that competition among fighters from Armenia, Georgia, Chechnya, and Dagestan is healthy. Ilia Topuria responded harshly to Tsarukyan's comments, calling him unintelligent and claiming he would break Tsarukyan's jaw in the first round if they fought. Additional news included Demetrious Johnson predicting a Khamzat Chimaev win over Sean Strickland, Benoit Saint-Denis teasing a fight with Paddy Pimblett via a social media post, and Bogdan Guskov declining a bout with an unnamed opponent.
Arman Tsarukyan has inserted himself into the lightweight title picture, publicly declaring he wants to fight Ilia Topuria should Justin Gaethje withdraw from their scheduled bout. Tsarukyan went further, stating his goal is to remove Topuria from the UFC entirely and rack up a minimum of five title defenses.
Topuria, ranked second in the lightweight division and first in the pound-for-pound standings, wasted no time firing back. The 29-year-old Spaniard dismissed Tsarukyan with sharp words, calling him unintelligent and stating he would break his jaw inside the first round. Topuria carries a 17-1 record and lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy, while also averaging 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes — a well-rounded threat at 170 cm and a 69-inch reach.
Merab Dvalishvili also weighed in on regional rivalries, saying he holds no animosity toward Dagestani fighters as a group, with one exception: bantamweight contender Umar Nurmagomedov. The 30-year-old Russian sits second in the bantamweight rankings with a 20-1 record and is one of the division's most dangerous grapplers, averaging 4.03 takedowns per 15 minutes and connecting on 56 percent of his significant strikes. Dvalishvili framed the broader competition among fighters from Armenia, Georgia, Chechnya, and Dagestan as a healthy sporting dynamic.
Elsewhere in the news cycle, Demetrious Johnson predicted Khamzat Chimaev would defeat Sean Strickland. The middleweight champion holds a 31-7 record, standing six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach and pumping out 6.04 significant strikes per minute. Benoit Saint-Denis also teased a potential matchup with Paddy Pimblett through a social media post, while Bogdan Guskov confirmed he turned down a fight against an unnamed opponent.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan's callout adds pressure to the Gaethje-Topuria booking and keeps the lightweight title conversation active
- Topuria's pointed response signals the rivalry between the two carries genuine animosity
- Dvalishvili singling out Umar Nurmagomedov hints at a potential future bantamweight collision between two elite grapplers
