Arman Tsarukyan is telling UFC lightweight champ Ilia Topuria to put his money where his mouth is.
Since Topuria captured the title with a first-round knockout win over Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 in June, Tsarukyan has been calling for his chance to fight for the title, especially considering he’s the top contender in the division, according to the UFC rankings.
Topuria recently said if the UFC offered him a fight with Tsarukyan, he’d rather give up the title. If that’s how Topuria feels, Tsarukyan is telling him to go right ahead and vacate.
“Just give up the belt and let me fight for my belt with somebody else,” Tsarukyan told reporters on Wednesday at a media day for Khamzat Chimaev.
Tsarukyan was set to fight for the title in January against then-champ Islam Makhachev in the main event of UFC 311, but a back injury forced Tsarukyan out of the bout the day before the event. UFC CEO Dana White, as expected, was not pleased with the turn of events, and has said Tsarukyan has work to do to get back to a championship opportunity. After making weight as the backup fighter for the UFC 317 main event, Tsarukyan says his relationship with the promotion is better.
Despite Tsarukyan being the backup fighter, it was Paddy Pimblett who squared off with Topuria in the cage at the end of UFC 317, while former interim champ Justin Gaetjhe has been trying to get his chance at the belt as well.
So when Topuria said he’d rather no longer be champion over fighting Tsarukyan, it just meant, to the 28-year-old, that Topuria is ducking him.
“He feels like he’s going to lose the fight, and it’s better to give [up] the belt, and then like go up, or wait [to see] what happens with me,” Tsarukyan explained. “He knows I’m a big problem for him, and I’m going to get his title.
“He knows that and he wants to get easy fight with Paddy, or Gaethje, or someone. Just make money and defend, but with me, it’s going to be hard for him.”
Former UFC fighter and ESPN analyst Chael Sonnen has said that he’s been told Tsarukyan will get a title shot against Topuria, and it could happen in January. While Sonnen’s record with his news accuracy isn’t the best, Tsarukyan certainly hopes he got this scoop correct.
“I hope so,” Tsarukyan said. “I want to fight for the title. I’ve been waiting so long and Chael Sonnen maybe knows something.
“[The UFC] didn’t tell anything to me yet, so I’m still waiting, training, and trying to call out Ilia as much as possible”
