Arman Tsarukyan has stated he does not believe Justin Gaethje will pull out of his upcoming bout against Ilia Topuria. Tsarukyan suggested that Gaethje knows these are his final fights in the UFC and is motivated by financial gain. He indicated that even if Gaethje loses, he will still earn a significant payday. Tsarukyan expressed confidence that Gaethje will not miss this opportunity. The comments reflect Tsarukyan's view that Gaethje's career is nearing its end but that money remains a strong incentive.
Arman Tsarukyan has publicly dismissed any suggestion that Justin Gaethje will withdraw from his scheduled lightweight title fight against Ilia Topuria, making clear he expects the champion to see the bout through to fight night.
Tsarukyan, the number-one ranked lightweight contender, carries a 23-3 record and fights out of American Top Team. The 29-year-old Russian is one of the division's most dangerous wrestlers, averaging 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes, and his 72-inch reach gives him a physical edge over most opponents at 170 cm tall. He has watched the Topuria-Gaethje matchup closely given his own position at the top of the division.
Justin Gaethje, the reigning lightweight champion, brings a 28-5 record into the contest. The 37-year-old from the United States trains out of Genesis Training Center and is one of the most prolific strikers in the division's history, landing 6.48 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate. Gaethje stands five-foot-eleven with a 70-inch reach.
Ilia Topuria enters as the number-two ranked lightweight and the current pound-for-pound number-one fighter in the sport. The 29-year-old Spaniard holds a 17-1 record and has built his reputation on sharp, high-volume striking at 4.81 significant strikes per minute alongside a credible grappling threat, averaging nearly two takedowns and more than one submission attempt per 15 minutes.
Tsarukyan's comments centered on Gaethje's motivation, suggesting the champion understands these are among his final fights at the top level and that a substantial financial reward provides sufficient reason to compete regardless of the outcome.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan sits one position below Gaethje in the rankings, making the title fight's result directly relevant to his own path to a championship bout
- A Topuria victory would set up a rematch with Tsarukyan, who previously faced him in a competitive lightweight contest
- Gaethje's commitment to the fight shapes the entire near-term landscape of the 155-pound division
