Bad blood is brewing between UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria and top contender Arman Tsarukyan.
Ilia Topuria rose to the UFC’s pound-for-pound No. 1 spot with a vicious knockout of Charles Oliveira at UFC 317. Topuria became the latest in a distinguished group of UFC elites to earn championships in multiple divisions.
After knocking out Oliveira at UFC 317, Topuria had a heated faceoff with Paddy Pimblett in the center of the cage. Many have speculated Topuria vs. Pimblett will be the next lightweight title fight, despite Arman Tsarukyan and Justin Gaethje also in the mix for Topuria’s first lightweight title defense.
While Tsarukyan might have to win at least one more fight before earning another title shot, he’s garnered the attention of the lightweight champion.
Ilia Topuria hits back at ‘total jerk’ Arman Tsarukyan over post-UFC 317 comments
Tsarukyan has been dismissive of Topuria’s performance at UFC 317, accusing the newly-crowned lightweight champion of being one-dimensional. He pointed to one of Topuria’s featherweight wins as an example of some of his weaknesses.
Just after UFC 317, Tsarukyan was asked how he’d approach a potential fight with Topuria in a recent chat with The New York Post.
“I’ll just take him down, hold him and just maul him,” Tsarukyan declared.
“I’ll finish him on the ground. He’s not gonna be able to escape from me. He’s good at one thing, boxing!”
In a recent interview with ABC Spain, Topuria responded to Tsarukyan.
“He’s a total jerk! Have you seen his fight against Charles Oliveira? How many times he was on the verge of submitting him and tapping him out?” Topuria replied.
“He’s had so many submissions. He’s a total jerk. I can assure you, I’ll finish Arman Tsarukyan.”
Topuria is targeting a return to the Octagon by year’s end for his first lightweight title defense. Tsarukyan was supposed to fight Islam Makhachev for the title at UFC 311 before withdrawing due to a back injury, and he has yet to be booked for his next fight.
UFC CEO Dana White was non-committal on Topuria’s next opponent following UFC 317. Amid the building tensions between Topuria and Tsarukyan, the matchmakers might have their hands full.
Ilia Topuria’s UFC 317 weigh-in controversy prompted a strong response from former referee
Just hours before knocking out Oliveira, Topuria was the center of a bizarre moment at the UFC 317 ceremonial weigh-in. As he stepped on the scale, Topuria’s weight was announced as 155.5 lbs, a half pound over the championship limit.
After a brief awkward moment, the Nevada State Athletic Commission official then announced that Topuria successfully made championship weight. Former referee ‘Big’ John McCarthy recently concluded that Topuria didn’t cheat, despite some believing Topuria didn’t make weight ahead of UFC 317.
Topuria has never missed weight in his UFC tenure.
