No one wants to fight Arman Tsarukyan.<\/p>\n
The No. 1 ranked lightweight contender continues to be the least popular potential opponent for everyone at 155 pounds, including the new champion Ilia Topuria. Before that, Islam Makhachev begrudgingly gave \u201cAkhalkalakets\u201d a title shot \u2014 only to have the Armenian fighter withdraw due to a back problem during his weight cut.<\/p>\n
Tsarukyan has since made weight as the backup<\/a> for Topuria\u2019s fight for Makhachev\u2019s vacated lightweight title, but that wasn\u2019t enough for \u201cEl Matador\u201d to consider him a reliable opponent. He wants to see Tsarukyan fight at least once more before even considering him as a contender.<\/p>\n Ilia Topuria says he would vacate his title before giving Arman Tsarukyan the next title shot <\/p>\n “They are gonna give him a fight before the title shot… I’m the world champion. I’m never gonna give him a chance… If that’s the case, take my belt.”<\/p>\n @nelkboys<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/eZjrY2gvrk<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) July 24, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cListen: when you put so much effort in this game and you have a guy in front who, you don\u2019t know, that maybe he could pull out from the fight?\u201d Topuria said in an interview with the Nelk Boys. \u201cThat\u2019s not something good for us.\u201d <\/p>\n \u201c\u2018Ah, my back!\u2019 Bro, I don\u2019t f\u2014ing care. They\u2019re going to give him a fight before a title shot. Because there is no way \u2014 I\u2019m the world champion. I\u2019m never going to give him a chance to fight for the title. I would be like, \u2018Listen, if that\u2019s the case, take my belt.\u2019 I don\u2019t do it.\u201d<\/p>\n Topuria isn\u2019t out of line demanding that Tsarukyan actually compete at 155 again before getting a title shot. But by the end he sounded like he would never consider Arman as a contender, which is crazy. Let\u2019s not get it twisted: Tsarukyan is without a doubt the toughest opponent for Topuria at lightweight right now. That used to mean something.<\/p>\n Imagine calling yourself a champion, but you\u2019re already looking for a way out. You can vacate it, or I\u2019ll take it. Either way, it\u2019s mine. https:\/\/t.co\/37ioTAt2vk<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Arman Tsarukyan UFC (@ArmanUfc) July 24, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Tsarukyan commented on Topuria\u2019s strong words in a X (formerly Twitter) reply.<\/p>\n \u201cImagine calling yourself a champion, but you\u2019re already looking for a way out,\u201d he wrote. \u201cYou can vacate it, or I\u2019ll take it. Either way, it\u2019s mine.\u201d<\/p>\n There\u2019s still no clear sign as to who Topuria might face in his first lightweight title defense. It could be Paddy Pimblett,<\/a> it could be Justin Gaethje,<\/a> it could even be Max Holloway again for the BMF belt.<\/a> It certainly won\u2019t be Arman Tsarukyan, if \u201cEl Matador\u201d has anything to do with it.<\/p>\n