Charles Oliveira was chosen to be against Ilia Topuria this summer about another top candidate.
It is because the MMA world is currently ABUZZ after a few important announcements from UFC CEO Dana White. Perhaps the biggest status of the lightweight title photo, where Islam Makhachev has left the throne.
While the Dagestani hunter is preparing for his shot on two-division Glorie opposite the newly crowned UFC-Welterweight champion Jack della Maddalena, a new king must be crowned at 155 pounds.
Fighting for the right to be the successor to Makhachev will be Oliveira and Topuria. But that is not the combination of a former MMA champion for the UFC 317 Main Event.
Josh Thomson says that Arman Tsarukyan vs Ilia Topuria was the right fight, not Charles Oliveira
Speaking with former referee John McCarthy during the last episode of their ways in Podcast, ex-PUC participant and Strikeforce title holder Josh Thomson gave his assessment of the most important events in his former division.
Interestingly, 'The Punk' Oliveira does not consider the most deserving competition for the next lightweight title fight. Instead, he pointed out Arman Tsarukyan as the more logical selection.
“This is what I want to know – how did you come to Charles and not Arman Tsarukyan?! He is the number one competition,” said Thomson.
When McCarthy suggested that Tsarukyan's last second withdrawal from UFC 311 in January eliminated him out of the comparison, Thomson countered that Makhachev's departure should make that void.
'I can understand them [UFC] Being upset … But now that Islam has disappeared, that fight has disappeared. He is still the number one competition. Ilia came, guaranteed or promised the title shot. I just want to see the two boys from Georgia fight! “
Arman Tsarukyan expressed frustration about Charles Oliveira's position on UFC Rematch
While Oliveira and Topuria have their upcoming assignment set, Tsarukyan's next step in the UFC remains unclear.
The promotion made it clear that Armenian, born in Georgia, should recover a championship chance after the injury he sustained in Los Angeles earlier this year. However, finding an opponent has been a challenge for Tsarukyan.
The 28-year-old went back to social media a few months to shoot both Oliveira and Justin Gaethje because of their apparent reluctance to face him.
I am the real #1 -administration, ready to prove it against everyone. But how should I do that if everyone just wants to fight on paper? Charles, Justin – you can sit and wait, or you can accumulate and earn it.
– Arman Tsarukyan UFC (@aranufc) March 22, 2025
View tweet
More recently, Tsarukyan has adapted his hostile goal to the charging Paddy Pimblett, and promises to destroy the scouser when they meet each other in the cage in a post on X.