Arman Tsarukyan isn’t anticipating to get his shot at Ilia Topuria simply but.
At present No. 2 at 155 kilos within the MMA Combating World Rankings, Tsarukyan has been in limbo since dropping out on his shot to combat for the light-weight title this previous January at UFC 311. Tsarukyan was to problem Islam Makhachev in that present’s essential occasion, however a again harm pressured Tsarukyan out of the competition and he has not competed since. Within the meantime, Makhachev vacated his belt to arrange a combat with welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena, and Topuria claimed the vacant title with a knockout of Charles Oliveira.
Topuria’s first light-weight championship continues to be to be introduced, and Tsarukyan believes he and two-time title challenger Justin Gaethje can be handed over for Paddy Pimblett.
“No, Gaethje gained’t combat Topuria,” Tsarukyan instructed Sport24 (Russian translation by way of Championship Rounds). “It’s my opinion. The UFC can do no matter they need. The UFC may even put Topuria towards a debutant. However I believe it’s extra more likely to be Pimblett than Gaethje.
At a look, Pimblett’s résumé isn’t as robust as Tsarukyan’s or Gaethje’s, however the fashionable Englishman has gained all seven of his UFC fights and has a longstanding feud with Topuria. Pimblett confronted Topuria within the cage after his win over Oliveira at UFC 317, however UFC CEO Dana White pushed again towards the suggestion that that grudge match is locked in.
“I believe he’ll defend his title,” Tsarukyan mentioned of Pimblett. “If Islam wins the [welterweight] title, [Topuria] will transfer as much as 170 and need to turn into a triple champ.”
Topuria and Makhachev seemed to be on a collision course when Topuria was featherweight champion, with “El Matador” making frequent overtures to shifting to light-weight to problem for Makhachev’s belt. Nevertheless, by the point Topuria formally moved up, Makhachev had additionally determined to chase a second title.
Since January, Tsarukyan has stayed busy with grappling matches, together with a submission win over Patricky Pitbull, and on Friday, he meets former UFC light-weight champion Benson Henderson in a no-gi grappling match in Moscow.
Although he nonetheless has plans to combat for 155-pound gold, he expects Topuria prefers different challenges for now.
“No, he gained’t need to combat me as a result of he can make more cash preventing Islam and he has the possibility to turn into the first-ever triple champion in historical past and earn massive cash,” Tsarukyan mentioned. “And even when he loses to Islam, he can say he moved as much as 170 and drop again down. He’ll have the excuse that he moved up two weight lessons.”
