Paul Felder criticized UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria for avoiding a fight with Arman Tsarukyan.
After switching off Charles Oliveira on UFC 317 last month, Ilia Topuria's UFC Lightweight Title Reign has officially started. Topuria became one of only a handful of UFC legends to earn several world titles and to join the ranks of Conor McGregor and Jon Jones.
Since earning the UFC light weight title, Topuria has repeatedly rejected a potential confrontation with no. 1 Competent Arman Tsarukyan for his first title defense.
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
Paul Felder criticizes Ilia Topuria's recent comments about fighting Arman Tsarukyan
Topuria raised eyebrows when he said he would rather leave the lightweight belt than a Tsarukyan title shot. Tsarukyan was supposed to fight when lightweight holder Islam Makhachev earlier this year in the Main Event of UFC 311 before he withdraws at the notice period due to injury.
Topuria was criticized by many fans on social media for his comments, in which some people label the 'most flagrant Ducken' in UFC history by a reigning champion. Tsarukyan has not fought anymore since UFC 311 and a timeline for his return to the Octagon remains uncertain.
A TOP -UFC analyst scolded Topuria for his position and believes that it is part of a bigger problem when it comes to title holders who keep their divisions.
During a recent episode of Believe You Me, UFC analyst Paul Felder weighed on Topuria's attitude towards Tsarukyan.
“I mean, the man is the number one competition,” said Felder. “And to say that you would rather give up the belt than fight him is on man, we are dragged a bit.
“In this generation of hunters, when they reach the top position, they are so willing to jump around weight classes and try to deny the fighting guys. It is not how it works F ******. If you are the best and it is not at your level and all these things, then prove it. I just hate it.
“Look, the UFC is not going to try to put you in a position that won't be big,” continued bright. “And I think you are in a position, Ilia, where you are the thing. They don't need the other man to necessarily be the thing. You are the man who want to see people.” (H/T MMA Knock -Out)
Topuria rose to the best pound-for-pound hunter of the UFC with his knockout from Oliveira on UFC 317. Since UFC 317, Topuria has entertained potential fights with people such as Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett, repeatedly ignored calls against Tsarukyan.
In the meantime, the feud of Topuria with McGregor took a bizarre turn earlier this week.
Conor McGregor trolled Ilia Topuria with a new hairstyle face wip
McGregor ran its heads this week when he shared a new look, inspired by the famous Mohawk of UFC Hall of Famer Chuck Liddell. McGregor recently shared a meme of the face of Topuria instead of herself, and seemed to mock comparisons between the two brash UFC stars.
After the McGregor meme went viral, he quickly removed the post from his Instagram story. At the moment Topuria has not responded to the latest Jabs from McGregor.
UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov ignited his long -term beef with McGregor when he compared Topuria and McGregor's behavior outside the cage. This led McGregor to go on a social media since removed on his counterpart of the UFC 229.