Ilia Topuria will not hand out title shots with a victory over UFC 317.
The unbeaten former featherweight champion is about to history this weekend while trying to become one of the few hunters in the UFC history to win titles in two weight classes.
Fresh knockouts about Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway, Spain's Ilia Topuria goes for vacant gold against former lightweight King Charles Oliveira in the main event of UFC 317 on Saturday.
Topuria is convinced that he will eliminate Oliveira as he wants, promises to 'explode' his chin in his switch to the lightweight division.
There are many intriguing fights for Topuria in the lightweight division after Oliveira, which are not currently interested in him.
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
Ilia Topuria says that Arman Tsarukyan has to fight again for the UFC title
Roads like the official backup for the UFC 317 headliner is the #1 lightweight competition Arman Tsarukyan.
Tsarukyan is 9-1 in his last 10 fights and has victories over Oliveira and Beneil Dariush.
The 28-year-old was planned to rematch Islam Makhachev for the undisputed title on UFC 311 in January, but a back injury forced Tsarukyan just before Fight Night from the matchup.
With a victory over UFC 317, Topuria was asked if Tsarukyan is the next one in line for the lightweight title.
“I would not immediately give him the chance,” Topuria said about Tsarukyan in an interview with New York Post Sports.
“He has to win another fight,” Topuria explained.
“He had the opportunity to fight for the title. He withdrew. I don't know for what reasons, but he withdrew.
“So he has to win his shot again, I don't know – there is Justin Gaethje, Paddy Pimblett, many boys in the division who also earn the shot. So they have to fight between each other.”
Ilia Topuria does not exclude rival Paddy Pimblett after UFC 317
Another Jager Topuria is bound by this fight is Paddy Pimblett.
The #8-ranging Pimblett placed itself in the title photo with a dominant victory over former Bellator champion Michael Chandler on UFC 314 in April.
Pimblett would be one of the biggest fights for Topuria in lightweight because the two have history with previous quarrels.
Yet Topuria says that Pimblett does not get an immediate title shot after UFC 317.
“No, that is not going to happen,” said Topuria on the Ariel Helwani show.
“He is a fight for the title shot,” Topuria said about Pimblett.
'So he needs that [win] Because it gets even better for our fight.
“If he still wins, we will, I think, the biggest fight in the UFC at the moment at the moment.
“Him vs. Justin Gaethje because I think he will easily beat him,” Topuria said about the opportunities of Pimblett to Gaethje.