The online back-and-forth between Arman Tsarukyan and Ilia Topuria continues. Now Tsarukyan has called out Topuria once again, accusing him of looking for easy fights to defend his belt before moving up to 170 pounds.
Tsarukyan believes Topuria cannot move up to welterweight to challenge champion Islam Makhachev at this point as ‘El Matador’ has not defended his lightweight title once. He therefore wants the Georgian-Spaniard to defend his belt and become more active. Topuria last fought Charles Oliveira in June for the vacant title.
In an interview with Ariel Helwani, ‘Ahalkalakets’ said this about the 155-pound champion:
‘He is [Ilia Topuria] trying to find easy fights and defend that title and move up, and UFC is trying to make him a superstar and defend the title. Because he can’t go to 170 right now because he didn’t defend the title. You have to prove that you are a real champion.”
Check out Arman Tsarukyan’s comments below:
Tsarukyan recently fought Dan Hooker at UFC Qatar and earned a round two submission winafter which he called out the UFC and Topuria. ‘Ahalkalakets’ wants to make a quick turnaround and compete for the title early next year.
UFC legend claims Arman Tsarukyan could be Ilia Topuria’s kryptonite
After submitting Dan Hooker to UFC Qatar, Arman Tsarukyan once again solidified his spot as the #1 UFC lightweight prospect. However, Topuria is rumored to be next in conversation with Paddy Pimblett.
Former UFC two-time champion Daniel Cormier does not currently support the idea of a Topuria vs. Pimblett fight. In a recent episode of Good guy/bad guy‘DC’ said:
I like Paddy Pimblett. I think Paddy Pimblett has a bright future in fighting… If Islam Makhachev is now welterweight champion, I believe the two best lightweights in the world are Arman Tsarukyan and Ilia Topuria, and that’s not even a question anymore… He is [Arman] big, he’s strong, he can really wrestle, he can strike, he can do just about anything, and his top control is what the real problem is, and I think that’s the scary thought for anyone who’s a fan of Ilia Topuria. If there is anyone who can imitate Makhachev’s game, it is Arman Tsarukyan.”
Check out Daniel Cormier’s comments below:
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