Bad Blow is brewing between UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria and top candidate Arman Tsarukyan.
Ilia Topuria rose to the pound-for-pound no. 1 of the UFC with a mean knockout from Charles Oliveira on UFC 317. Topuria became the newest in a major group of UFC elites to earn championships in multiple divisions.
After switching off Oliveira on UFC 317, Topuria had a heated faceoff with Paddy Pimblett in the middle of the cage. Many have speculated that Topuria vs. Pimblett will be the next lightweight title fight, despite Arman Tsarukyan and Justin Gaethje also in the mix for the first lightweight defense of Topuria.
Although Tsarukyan may have to win at least one fight before he deserves another title shot, he received the attention of the lightweight champion.
Photo by Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC
Ilia Topuria refers to 'Total Jerk' Arman Tsarukyan via Post-UuC 317 comments
Tsarukyan is negative for the performance of Topuria on UFC 317 and accused the newly crowned lightweight champion of one -dimensional. He pointed to one of the featherweight of Topuria as an example of some of his weaknesses.
Just after UFC 317, Tsarukyan was asked how he would approach a potential fight with Topuria in a recent chat with the New York Post.
“I will just take him down, hold and just drag him,” Tsarukyan explained.
“I will finish him on the floor. He will not be able to escape from me. He is good in one thing, boxing!”
Topuria responded to Tsarukyan in a recent interview with ABC Spain.
“He is a total jerk! Have you seen his fight against Charles Oliveira? How often was he about to subdue and tap him?” Topuria answered.
“He has had so many entries. He is a total glans. I can assure you, I will finish Arman Tsarukyan.”
Topuria focuses on a return to the Octagon towards the end of the year for his first lightweight title defense. Tsarukyan should fight Islam Makhachev against the title on UFC 311 before he withdrew because of a back injury, and he still has to be booked for his next fight.
UFC CEO Dana White was non-committal on the next opponent of Topuria after UFC 317. In the midst of the building voltages between Topuria and Tsarukyan, the matchmakers may have their hands full.
Ilia Topuria's UFC 317 Weigh-in controversy led to a strong response from former referee
Only a few hours before Oliveira was eliminated, Topuria was the center of a bizarre moment at the UFC 317 ceremonial weighting. While he got on the scale, the weight of Topuria was announced as 155.5 pounds, half a pound above the limit of the championship.
After a short uncomfortable moment, the Nevada State Athletic Commission official then announced that Topuria successfully made the championship weight. Former referee 'Big' John McCarthy recently concluded that Topuria did not play falsely, even though some believe that Topuria was not weighed for UFC 317.
Topuria has never missed the weight in his UFC official period.