Tsarukyan explains why Topuria should fight Makhachev before him

Arman Tsarukyan has publicly argued that Ilia Topuria deserves the next lightweight title shot against Islam Makhachev ahead of him, outlining his reasoning for why that sequence makes more sense given the current state of the division.

Tsarukyan, nicknamed "Ahalkalakets," carries a 23-3-0 record and sits as the number-one ranked lightweight contender at 29 years old. The Russia-born American Top Team product is a formidable threat in multiple areas, averaging 3.85 significant strikes per minute with 50 percent accuracy while also posing a serious grappling danger at 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes — one of the higher rates in the division.

Topuria, ranked second at lightweight and first pound-for-pound on the planet, holds a 17-1-0 record and has established himself as one of the sport's most dangerous finishers. The 29-year-old Spaniard, known as "El Matador," generates an impressive 4.81 significant strikes per minute and also contributes on the ground with nearly two takedowns per 15 minutes and 1.1 submission attempts in that same span.

Standing in their way is Makhachev, the reigning champion who now campaigns at welterweight according to current records, but holds the lightweight throne at 28-1-0. The 34-year-old Russian, training out of Eagles MMA, controls fights with elite grappling at 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes while also landing strikes at 58 percent accuracy — a standout figure for any division.

Why it matters

• Tsarukyan holds the top contender ranking yet is publicly deferring, an unusual move that reshapes the title queue
• A Topuria-Makhachev fight would pit the top pound-for-pound fighter against the champion, raising the stakes beyond a typical title bout
• Tsarukyan's 72-inch reach gives him a physical edge over both men, making his eventual title shot a compelling stylistic problem regardless of order