Following Ilia Topuria`s recent victory over Charles Oliveira for the lightweight title at UFC 317, Paddy Pimblett entered the octagon for a face-off with the newly crowned champion. However, MMA icon Demetrious Johnson has voiced his disapproval of this potential matchup.
Although UFC CEO Dana White later commented that the face-off “shouldn`t have happened” and didn`t explicitly confirm Pimblett as the next challenger, Johnson believes that even considering Pimblett over the clear number one contender, Arman Tsarukyan, goes against the principle of meritocracy within the sport.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Johnson emphatically stated, “It needs to be him, Arman Tsarukyan.” He went on to describe the UFC as akin to a “reality TV show,” arguing that while Tsarukyan is the undisputed top contender and ranked number one, other factors seem to be influencing matchmaking decisions.
Tsarukyan secured a split decision win over Charles Oliveira in his last outing in April 2024. He was also the designated backup fighter for the UFC 317 main event and successfully made weight, despite having been forced to withdraw from a previously scheduled fight with Islam Makhachev in January due to health issues. Despite his position in the rankings and readiness, White did not officially name Tsarukyan as the next title challenger.
Johnson commented on the situation regarding rankings, suggesting that the UFC might push for a Pimblett vs. Topuria fight because it`s likely to generate more sales. However, he firmly reiterated his stance, saying, “I think the rightful person who should be getting the next title shot at lightweight is Arman Tsarukyan,” emphasizing that the opportunity belongs to Tsarukyan based on sporting merit.
Johnson mentioned that he had predicted Topuria`s victory over Oliveira, attributing it to favorable stylistic matchups. He expressed admiration for Topuria`s performance, highlighting his impressive string of wins against top-tier opponents, including knockout victories over Alexander Volkanovski and Charles Oliveira, solidifying his position at the top.
While Topuria`s career trajectory appears promising, Johnson offered a contrasting prediction regarding his potential longevity in the sport.
Johnson speculated that Ilia Topuria might only compete in “three or four more times” before potentially deciding to retire from mixed martial arts.
