“He doesn’t want to fight” – Arman Tsarukyan claims that he will not get the next title shot against Ilia Topuria

Arman Tsarukyan does not see himself getting the first crack in the lightweight gold from Ilia Topuria.

After recording the main prize of the featherweight Division in 2024, ‘El Matador’ etched its name in the history books on UFC 317, Bruy Ko’ing Charles Oliveira in the opening round to conquer the 155 crown and to become a secondev champion.

Since then, fans looked at at the point to find out who would be the first place to challenge the lightweight title line of Topuria. Many assumed that it would be Tsarukyan, given that he is the best -ranking competitor of the division.

But according to the man himself, the UFC is much more likely to strike while the iron is hot by placing Paddy Pimblett on that location above himself and former BMF title holder Justin Gaethje.

“No, Gaethjje won’t fight Topuria,” Tsaruky said Sport24 (Russian translation via Championship). “It’s my opinion. The UFC can do what they want. The UFC can even place Topuria against a debutant. But I think it’s Pimblett rather than Gaethje.”

Gaethje lobbys hard for a third shot on the lightweight title after his defeat of Rafael Fiziev in March. Unfortunately it sounds like the UFC is ready to call Gaethje’s Bluff.

Tsarukyan thinks that Topuria’s stay with lightweight will be a short

Topuria defended his featherweight Kroon only once and scored a mean third round KO against Max Holloway on UFC 308. A few months later, ‘El Matador’ put down his gold in an attempt to go up and conquer another weight class.

It turns out that Tsarukyan believes that Topuria’s stay with lightweight can be just as short as his reign at 145, but that all depends on how things take place when Islam Makhachev challenges the Welterweight title holder Jack della Maddalena.

“I think he will defend his title,” Tsarukyan said about Pimblett. ‘If Islam the [welterweight] title, [Topuria] Will move to 170 and want to become a triple champion. ‘

Topuria initially went up to a lightweight intention to fight against Makhachev, which at the time was on top of the throne of 155 pounds. But almost as soon as Topuria announced that he went up, Makhachev did that too. If ‘De Dagestani Destroyer’ succeeds in his own attempt to become a two-division king, we may see Toupria jump to 170, both Makhachev and UFC history chase.