UFC Lightweight Champion Ilia Topuria continues to fall under fire because of his refusal to fight a top candidate.
Topuria's first defense of the lightweight Kroon does not remain confirmed, but the UFC has no shortage of options for its opening challenger.
Since Topuria Charles Oliveira has eliminated on UFC 317 to become a two-division champion, three contenders have set up their claims for a shot on the Spaniard. While Paddy Pimblett wants to benefit from his hostility with the 155-pound king, Justin Gaethje believes that the UFC owes him a shot, and Arman Tsarukyan is generally pointed out to the most deserving option.
'El Matador' has left the door open to two of those options and has closed the third firmly, a movement that one colleague hunter thinks he might regret.
Islam has a great quote at the UFC Pi, he will fight against everyone and everywhere – Hey Dana is perhaps a good time to place a quote in the bathroom for Ilia to remind him not to sit while he is pissed off – thanks boss 🤝🏾
– Arman Tsarukyan UFC (@aranufc) 3 August 2025
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Henry Cejudo warns Ilia Topuria about the consequences of avoiding Arman Tsarukyan
Topuria has made his lack of interest in a fight with the top candidate clear. Topuria would in fact rather leave than fight Tsarukyan, an attitude that has been criticized on a large scale by both fans and analysts since he shared it publicly.
The newest who advises the former featherweight champion and current lightweight King to change that position is Henry Cejudo, who suggested that Topuria will become a 'public enemy' if he refuses to take on the challenge of a worthy competition.
“Arman does a really good job by just trolling him,” said Cejudo on his 4 pounds podcast next to Kamaru Usman.
“Everyone and their damn mother, they want to see that fight (Topuria vs. Tsarukyan). They don't want to see a fight with Paddy 'The Baddy', man.
“(Topuria) say that he would never give Arman a chance on the belt, he would rather give up. The UFC does not want to hear that, man,” Cejudo continued. “As soon as you start thinking that you are larger than the UFC, you start to become the number one of the public enemy.
“Although you are a champion and you have two belts, you still have no leverage.”
Arman Tsarukyan has told Ilia Topuria to continue and leave the title
It is clear what the competition in question thinks of the situation.
Tsarukyan continued to mock Topuria online, even recreating Tom Aspinall's 'Duck' trolls from Jon Jones with his own hilarious social media clip.
And in his most recent assessment of the situation during a media day session for training partner Khamzat Chimaev's UFC 319-title shot, Tsarukyan urged Topuria to leave the title and to make up for his promise if he will not fight against the Russian-armor star.
“If he feels that he is going to lose that fight, it is better to give up the belt and go up or wait for what is happening to me,” Tsarukyan said.
“He knows that I am a big problem for him, and I'm going to get his title. He knows, and he wants to get an easy fight with Paddy, Gaethje or someone (different). Just don't make money and do not defend. But with me? It will be difficult for him.”