Arman Tsarukyan has admitted he was impressed by Ilia Topuria`s championship performance.
Just last Saturday at UFC 317, Topuria secured the vacant lightweight title by achieving a first-round knockout victory over Charles Oliveira in the main event. This outcome aligned with Topuria`s own predictions and many expectations, yet it was nonetheless striking, particularly from the perspective of Tsarukyan, who was watching from cageside.
“I was impressed because it happened in the first round,” Tsarukyan commented during an appearance on Daniel Cormier`s YouTube channel. “But I knew he has one of the best boxing in our division, right now. His best weapon is boxing. When he knocked him out like that, I was surprised. He just fold straight. It was a good knockout.”
Crucially for Tsarukyan, Topuria`s win was precisely the result he had been hoping for.
“When the fight started, I wanted Topuria to win, because, for me, it’s easier to fight Topuria than Oliveira,” Tsarukyan stated. “For my style. Because I like to take down people. When you take down Charles Oliveira, he can still choke you or do submissions. Topuria is going to try to get up. He’s going to defend. And then you can just go 1000 times to take him down because there’s no problems on the ground. He’s not going to try to choke you or something.”
However, despite his positive view of Topuria`s fighting, Tsarukyan expressed disapproval regarding the events that followed the bout.
During his post-fight interview inside the cage, Topuria called out Paddy Pimblett, who was also present at cageside. UFC commentator Joe Rogan then invited Pimblett into the octagon for an impromptu face-off. Following the incident, UFC CEO Dana White commented that this should not have occurred, a view that Tsarukyan fully supports.
“It was a Joe Rogan mistake,” Tsarukyan declared. “Joe Rogan called him. It was a Joe Rogan mistake, and he shouldn’t even call his name and bring him to the octagon. He called out Paddy to come to the octagon. I was surprised, but when Dana said, ‘It shouldn’t be like that,’ I said, OK, hopefully he’s not fighting for the title. …”
Tsarukyan elaborated on his initial reaction: “For 20, 30 minutes I was, of course, upset, because I said, ‘This is not sport, this is WWE. They can do whatever they want to do,’” he recounted. “I’ve been fighting with everybody and had a good winning streak with top fighters. But then, when I listened to Dana’s interview about Paddy, I said, OK, hopefully he’s not fighting for the title. They must put me on the title because I’m No. 1 contender, most deserving fighter right now. After me, they can fight. But next it’s me, for sure.”
Determining the next challenger for Topuria`s title is currently uncertain, with Tsarukyan, Pimblett, and potentially Justin Gaethje being discussed as contenders. Nevertheless, Tsarukyan is convinced he is the fighter best equipped to halt Topuria`s impressive winning streak.
“He never fought with wrestlers like me, who know freestyle wrestling,” Tsarukyan asserted, highlighting what he perceives as a gap in Topuria`s skillset. He brought up Topuria`s fight with Bryce Mitchell as an example: “… Bryce Mitchell, as the worst fighter at 145, he took him down and held him. He got his single-leg and even he took him down, and he couldn’t escape. He was pulling guard. If you’re good on the ground, you never pull guard. You’re trying to sweep or get up from there. I can tell he’s not high level.”
An additional note within the original report expressed a desire for a Topuria vs. Tsarukyan fight, calling it “the good stuff,” but also doubted it would happen next, or possibly ever.
