Arman Tsarukyan said he wants Diego Lopes to drop out so he can fight and "throw out" Ilia Topuria from the UFC, stating he won't stop until he has at least five title defenses. Merab Dvalishvili clarified he has no issues with Dagestani fighters except Umar Nurmagomedov, whom he dislikes, while emphasizing healthy competition among fighters from Armenia, Georgia, Chechnya, and Dagestan. Topuria, who recently updated his chest tattoo, called Arman extremely stupid and predicted he would break his jaw in the first round if they fight, adding that Arman spends his father's money and is not wealthy. Tsarukyan discussed a potential bout with Alexander Volkanovski and outlined future prospects for Khamzat Chimaev. Demetrious Johnson predicted a confident victory for Chimaev over Sean Strickland. Benoit Saint-Denis appeared to announce a fight with Paddy Pimblett by posting roast beef on social media. Bogdan Guskov declined a fight with a Polish opponent.
Arman Tsarukyan has made clear he wants a shot at Ilia Topuria, going as far as to say he hopes Diego Lopes steps aside so he can fight and "throw out" the Georgian-Spanish star from the UFC. Tsarukyan also stated he will not stop competing until he has secured at least five title defenses, signaling long-term ambitions at lightweight.
Topuria, currently ranked second at lightweight and first in the pound-for-pound standings with a 17-1-0 record, was not short of a response. The 29-year-old fighting out of Spain fired back at Tsarukyan, calling him extremely stupid and predicting he would break his jaw in the first round. Topuria also took aim at Tsarukyan's finances, claiming he lives off his father's money. Topuria lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy, and also poses a submission threat, averaging 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
Tsarukyan, for his part, also discussed a possible future matchup with Alexander Volkanovski and outlined what he sees as future prospects for Khamzat Chimaev at welterweight or middleweight. On that topic, Demetrious Johnson weighed in, predicting a confident win for Chimaev should he face Sean Strickland. Strickland, the reigning middleweight champion, carries a 31-7-0 record and one of the busiest outputs in the division at 6.04 significant strikes landed per minute.
Elsewhere, Merab Dvalishvili used recent media time to address the regional rivalries often discussed in MMA circles. He stressed that he holds no animosity toward Dagestani fighters in general but singled out bantamweight contender Umar Nurmagomedov as someone he genuinely dislikes. Nurmagomedov, ranked second at bantamweight with a 20-1-0 record, is one of the division's most dangerous grapplers, averaging 4.03 takedowns per 15 minutes at 56 percent striking accuracy.
In a lighter development, Benoit Saint-Denis appeared to tease an upcoming fight with Paddy Pimblett through a social media post featuring roast beef, though no official announcement has followed. Separately, Bogdan Guskov declined a proposed matchup against a Polish opponent.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan's push for Topuria keeps the lightweight title picture unsettled, with Lopes also in the mix
- Dvalishvili's public comments on Nurmagomedov could accelerate a bantamweight title contender clash
- A potential Saint-Denis versus Pimblett bout would carry significant stakes in a crowded lightweight division
