Ilia Topuria is criticized for his position on defending the UFC light weight title against a certain competition.
Topuria is less than a month away from reaching two -division glory on MMA's largest stage, an achievement that he achieved in the curtain closer to the edition of the International Fight Week of this year.
After Topuria Charles Oliveira had eliminated on UFC 317, Talk quickly turned over who could be the first to challenged the reign of the Spaniard at 155 pounds. But although many have pointed to the best competition and June 28 Back -up Jager, Arman Tsarukyan, 'El Matador' has excluded him.
In fact, Topuria has given more than just the preference for other options for his first defense, that he will never fight Tsarukyan and would rather leave the belt than to give Russian-Armenian a chance.
Imagine calling yourself a champion, but you are already looking for a way out. You can leave it or I assume it. Anyway, it's mine. https://t.co/37iotat2VK
– Arman Tsarukyan UFC (@aranufc) July 24, 2025
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Ilia Topuria under fire from fans for 'Ducking' Arman Tsarukyan
Tsarukyan was not surprisingly fast to hit back to the newly crowned king of his division, and 'Akhalkalakets' was not alone with his criticism.
Many MMA fans also focused on Topuria and accused him of 'diving' an deserving opponent in an even worse way than the refusal of Jon Jones to combat Tom Aspinall prior to his controversial and apparently short-term retirement.
“Take a page from Jones's book”
“So he is afraid of someone who is a challenge?”
“Lil Man is (Duck Emojis).”
“Jones 2.0.”
“In a shocking explanation, Ilia Topuria admits that Arman Tsarukyan has shaken him.”
“He must be stripped.”
“Why could Jon 'Duck' not be as transparent as this guy?”
“He knows that Arman will be his first real test.”
“Arman is really sewn.”
“Sounds if he and 'bones' would be the best buttons.”
“This is the most blatant dive I've ever seen.”
Arman Tsarukyan Trolls Ilia Topuria with 'Duck' Chase Video
After a serious response to the controversial attitude of Topuria on X, Tsarukyan later went a more comic route on Instagram.
Tsarukyan One-Uped Aspinall, who trollbled Jones with a rubber duck by using a real duck in his skit. The UFC light weight competition can be seen by chasing a duck while he shouts: “Ilia! Ilia! Stop running! Degrees boy. I will be worried, not worried.”
Tsarukyan initially planned to shoot his first title at UFC 311 last January, but he withdrew from his challenge against Islam Makhachev at the Los Angeles hero Pay-per-View for late notification.
While the Russian-Armens quoted a back injury that was sustained during his weight reduction, some suggested that a struggle to reduce weight was the likely reason behind the canceled fight.
UFC CEO Dana White then said that Tsarukyan would have to make a title shot again, and it seems that making successful the limit of 155 pounds on UFC 317 was not enough to do this.