A competition Ilia Topuria who is agreed on UFC 317 can ultimately get the following title fight.
It is an exciting time in the UFC Lightweight Division. With pound-for-pound King Islam Makhachev remotely from his title, Ilia Topuria became the new lightweight champion of the world after switching off Charles Oliveira in the main event of UFC 317.
Topuria was surrounded by potential challengers after his second title win: Arman Tsarukyan, Justin Gaethje and rival Paddy Pimblett, who came into the cage with him for a face-off.
Who gets the title from the three shot? That is a charged question, because White hated the Topuria vs. Pimblett Face-Off, Gaethje's 'crazy' pension Ultimatum, and the idea Tsarukyan was able to fight again for the title after withdrawing his main event against Makhakev at UFC 311.
One ex-PUC star believes that the #1 competition has paid his contribution for another title chance.
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
Josh Thomson sees Arman Tsarukyan fighting Ilia Topuria after entering into UFC 317
Tsarukyan was mentioned by Topuria in his interview after the fight, and insulted De Jager for not 'delivering' against Makhachev because of a back injury.
At the UFC 317 Post-Fight Press Conference, White Tsarukyan denied the following title fight and said that he had not made a weight for his first title option at UFC 311.
On Friday morning, Tsarukyan stepped on the scales on the championship weight of 155 pounds as a backup hunter for the UFC 317 Main Event.
Former StrikeForce champion and UFC Lightweight Josh Thomson believes that Tsarukyan has exchanged himself with the move.
“I think that because Arman had made the weight, like the backup, it has a bit entitled to the wrong one for Dana White,” Thomson said on the roads in Podcast.
“He was entitled to the wrong one.
“I really believe he will eventually be,” Thomson said about Tsarukyan.
“I don't think they will put Paddy afterwards because I think they want to keep Ilia there a bit. They are like, look, let's get the Arman fight and let's get the paddy fight. Let's see what's happening.”
Josh Thomson thinks that UFC Ilia Topuria will try to test with Arman Tsarukyan Matchup
While Thomson a potential Topuria vs. Pimblett Matchup aims for the 'Next Nearest Fight' for Conor McGregor vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov in terms of size, the retired hunter still believes that Tsarukyan should be the next one for Topuria.
Topuria left the featherweight division after a title defense and Thomson fears that he might want to move to goodweight after another defending defense in lightweight.
“If he goes and beats Paddy, that's a pretty big payment day,” Thomson said about the next fight by Topuria.
“And what keeps it from going, such as:” I want my third title, let's go to 170, I don't have to fight Arman … “”
The coach of Islam Makhachever Javier Mendez has advertised Tsarukyan as the most difficult test of Topuria in lightweight and Thomson reflects a similar sentiment.
“I think they will try to test him,” Thomson said about the UFC plans for Topuria.
“They are going to say, hey, let's let you fight Arman.
“I think they will try to test him,” Thomson added.
Tsarukyan has been 9-1 in the UFC since he lost to Makhachev in his UFC debut. The #1 Compendier eliminated the will of the former top 3-mededian Beneil Dariush and last year former champion Charles Oliveira hit UFC 300 before Topuria got him in his hands.