Former UFC Lightweight Khabib Nurmagomedov champion does not think that Ilia Topuria has a good chance of Arman Tsarukyan.
Topuria became the lightweight champion with a knockout victory over Charles Oliveira in June. He is currently waiting to be booked for his first title defense, but all signs indicate that it is against Paddy Pimblett or Arman Tsarukyan.
However, if Topuria is opposed to Tsarukyan, Nurmagomedov ‘expects to hear’ and new ‘because he believes it is a bad matchup for the champion.
Khabib does not see Ilia Topuria getting a chance against Arman Tsarukyan 😳
“I now believe that the best is lightweight [Tsarukyan]… I would say it is 80% -20% in favor of Arman.
We all know the wrestling level that Holloway and Charles Oliveira had. It’s practical … pic.twitter.com/lay29Wehin
– Championship Rounds (@champrds) August 25, 2025
“I don’t see a chance for Topuria. A big blow is a (not working). Arman fights too much with strikers from a distance. He keeps his distance well, works better with his legs and now Arman is too good,” Topuria said. “He already has material that he can view and study well. If he fought with him three fights ago, maybe he would not do that, but now you can already see something to fear from Topuria. I think the best lightweight is now (Tsarukyan).”
It is an interesting remark from Khabib Nurmagomedov that he believes that Arman Tsarukyan is the best lightweight in the world. But despite that, Tsarukyan may not even get a title shot against Ilia Topuria, because Paddy Pimblett could get the shot.
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