Arman Tsarukyan believes Ilia Topuria is avoiding him because he knows he is a tough match.
Tsarukyan is coming off a split decision win over Charles Oliveira in April 2024 to become the No. 1 contender. However, injuries have kept him on the sidelines as he will now headline UFC Qatar against Dan Hooker.
Should Tsarukyan win, he believes he should get the next title shot as long as Topuria doesn’t continue to avoid him.
“No way (Paddy can beat Ilia). I’m the only one who can beat Ilia in our division for now,” said to Ariel Helwani on Tuesday. “And everyone knows that. Even the UFC knows that, that’s why they try to push him as much as possible… If I perform really well and finish Hooker, they can’t avoid me anymore.”
Topuria has not booked his next fight, but it is likely he will face Paddy Pimblett or Justin Gaethje next.
Ilia Topuria thinks he should finish Dan Hooker
Those who don’t get the Topuria fight can wait for the winner. But Arman Tsarukyan plans to make a statement and finish Dan Hooker at UFC Qatar to prove he deserves a title shot.
“I have to, I have to show that I will fight for the title and that I deserve to be there… I know at this moment that I had a problem with my back and there are a lot of rumors, this, that,” Tsarukyan said. “But I feel really good, I just go there to do my job and I don’t care what they think about my performance.”
Tsarukayn was scheduled to fight Islam Makhachev for the lightweight title at UFC 311 in January. However, the day before the fight he suffered a back injury and had to withdraw. He hasn’t fought since, but he did have a role as a backup fighter at UFC 317.
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