Arman Tsarukyan has sent a message to former division champion Ilia Topuria, suggesting he take more time to recover and consult an eye specialist, as Tsarukyan continues his pursuit of the UFC lightweight championship.
At UFC 331 this past weekend, Tsarukyan delivered a stunning first-round knockout against Mauricio Ruffy, a finish impressive enough to warrant a title shot. Despite Dana White praising Tsarukyan’s performance, he stopped short of confirming a match against reigning lightweight champion Justin Gaethje. Tsarukyan, however, expressed his desire to compete again in December and hinted that if Gaethje is reluctant to fight, he should vacate the belt.
In a recent interview with Sport24, Tsarukyan playfully teased Topuria, nicknamed “El Matador,” saying, “Let Ilia see an ophthalmologist and take some time to fully recover—maybe another four or five months. Once I become champion, we’ll talk. I’d be happy to fight him.”
Here is Tsarukyan’s statement shared on Twitter:
“🚨 Arman Tsarukyan says Ilia should rest a bit more, and once he becomes champion, he’ll gladly give him a title shot. ‘Let Ilia see an ophthalmologist and take some time to fully recover—maybe another four or five months. Once I become champion, we’ll talk. I’d be happy to…’” — MMA Pros Pick
Topuria recently announced he is cleared to fight and has resumed training, aiming to return by February 2027. He has expressed interest in a rematch with Gaethje, though Gaethje may have other plans. Following Tsarukyan’s impressive UFC 331 victory, fans and the MMA community are calling for Gaethje vs. Tsarukyan and Topuria vs. Paddy Pimblett next.
After his knockout win over Mauricio Ruffy, Tsarukyan told Joe Rogan that his next fight should either be for the title or, jokingly, against Mark Zuckerberg.
“Title fight or Mark Zuckerberg, I wanna fight you next.”
At the post-fight show, Tsarukyan also humorously added, “I’m going to fight with Hunter [Campbell] if it’s not going to happen.”
Fan Take: This development is electrifying for MMA fans, as Tsarukyan’s rise injects new energy and anticipation into the lightweight division. If Tsarukyan earns a title shot and topples Gaethje, it could shake up the division’s landscape and set the stage for thrilling matchups involving Topuria and Pimblett.
Source: www.lowkickmma.com
