Arman Tsarukyan was not delighted to see the focus shift to Ilia Topuria versus Paddy Pimblett after the UFC 317 Main Event.
Saturday's Pay-per-View Headliner awarded the successor to Islam Makhachev, with Topuria who wrote history as the newest participant at the Club of Tweedivisie UFC champions.
After having said goodbye earlier this year, Topuria Charles Oliveira put UFC 317 in a devastating way to win the lightweight gold.
Two potential next opponents were present in the T-Mobile Arena, which meant that people would always be chased from the spotlights.
Arman Tsarukyan says that Ilia Topuria 'knows' that he would be ready in UFC title fight
Although it initially seemed as if Topuria would establish the focus on Tsarukyan during his Octagon interview, Joe Rogan shifted the subject of conversation to Pimblett instead.
That resulted in a face-off between Topuria and Pimblett that became physical after they had exchanged words, forcing security.
Tsarukyan looked up from the hunters' hunters and he quickly went to social media to express his displeasure.
“It was never supposed to be Charles. I can finish Ilia, that simple. And he knows it too,” Tsarukyan wrote. “That's why he avoids the real #1 competition.”
It was never supposed to be Charles. I can finish Ilia, that simple. And he knows too. That is why he avoids the real #1 competition.
– Arman Tsarukyan UFC (@aranufc) 29 June 2025
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Ilia Topuria warned Arman Tsarukyan for title Snub after UFC 317
The way things unfolded at UFC 317 was perhaps not a total surprise for Tsarukyan.
Despite the fact that they weigh the weight of the Russian-Armens as a backup hunter for Saturday's main event, the Russian-Armens had rejected his claim on the next title shot by both Topuria and UFC CEO Dana White during Fight Week.
Before the presence of Tsarukyan in Las Vegas and a successful visit by Tsarukyan on the scale on Friday as nothing more than one step in the right direction, 'El Matador' insisted that the best competition should earn the shot by taking on another victory.
Although that would also be the case for Pimblett, the recent face-off might have set him up to jump into Justin Gaethje in the pecking order.