Chael Sonnen confident that Ilia Topuria vs. Arman Tsarukyan is '100 percent' UFC's plan
Tsarukyan (23-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) pulled out of his lightweight title bout against Islam Makhachev just one day before UFC 311 in January, resulting in Dana White saying that he had to earn his way back to a shot.
UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria (17-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) recently claimed that he'd vacate his belt before defending it against Tsarukyan, and sees either Justin Gaethje or Paddy Pimblett as first title defense. However, despite all those stipulations, Sonnen says he's hearing otherwise.
"Outside of illness or injury, even if I'm breaking news to you, I'm not sharing my opinion. I'm sharing a fact with you: It's Arman vs. Ilia," Sonnen told MMA Junkie. "That is 100 percent the plan."
Sonnen explained where he came up with his theory.
"There's a couple things (that have changed for Tsarukyan)," Sonnen said. "I'm obviously coming to you with information, whether I should have or shouldn't have. Secondly, I was the best man at his wedding and his name is Darryl Christian and he's the wrestling coach of Arman Tsarukyan. Third of all, I just spoke to coach (Sam Calavitta) who wanted to film Chimaev training, and it turned out Tsarukyan is in the room. And a bigger tell also is what Ilia did a week ago, which he said, 'I don't want the fight.' The greats, they don't even know they have it. ... Ilia's first move for doing a fight is to deny the fight. The only person that he said he'll openly fight is Paddy.
"Everybody else that he's getting ready to fight, he denies. It's just his approach. Anderson (Silva) had one. He would always deny the fight and he would let that run for about two weeks. He would then accept the fight. He would let that run for about a month then he would slip an injury report to the media where you think the fight is off and it's not going to happen. He would go and get his run out of that and would tell everybody, 'I'm fine, it's on.' I'm only sharing. That was his system – 100 percent of his fights, he built the same way. Ilia's not any different, whether he knows about it or not. Ilia's first move when he's going to fight a guy, aside from Paddy, is to say to, 'I'm not going to fight the guy.'"
Tsarukyan weighed in as the official backup for the vacant lightweight title fight between Topuria and Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 in June, but his services weren't needed. Tsarukyan hasn't competed since defeating Oliveira at UFC 300 last April.
"(Tsarukyan) got put through a purgatory and he had to get out of it, but he did," Sonnen said. "When he showed up, got licensed, weighed in, went through a training camp and he has to sit in the first row and even watch Paddy 'The Baddy' get in the ring and get the attention and not him, I'm just saying, there is an appreciation, historically, that has shined down – and it's also going to be shown to him."
Like many pundits, Sonnen agrees that Tsarukyan is Topuria's sternest test on paper – but still sees "El Matador" being the favorite.
"Matchup-wise, the hardest matchup for Ilia is Arman Tsarukyan. ... I think that the world would lean toward Topuria right now," Sonnen said. "He's just the flavor. He's hot. He's undefeated and he's the champion of the world. (He) should be two-division champion, BMF champion, lineal-wise. But if Tsarukyan gets his hand on you, you've got a problem."
To hear more from Sonnen, check out his complete appearance on "The Bohnfire" podcast with MMA Junkie senior reporter Mike Bohn above.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC analyst: Ilia Topuria vs. Arman Tsarukyan '100 percent' the plan
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
8 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Lakers jersey history No. 2 — Wayne Ellington
Through the 2024-25 season, the Los Angeles Lakers have had a total of 506 players suit up for them, going back to their days in Minneapolis. Some were forgettable, some were serviceable, some were good and a select few were flat-out legendary. As the Lakers approach their 80th season of existence (they were founded back in 1946 as the Detroit Gems in the National Basketball League), LeBron Wire is taking a look at each player who has worn their jersey, whether it has been a purple and gold one or the ones they donned back in the Midwest during their early years. Advertisement Let's take a look at Wayne Ellington, a sharpshooter who had two separate stints with the Lakers. After spending three years at the University of North Carolina, Ellington was the No. 28 pick in the 2009 NBA Draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves. The shooting guard played his first three seasons in Minnesota, and after brief stints with the Memphis Grizzlies, Cleveland Cavaliers and Dallas Mavericks, he came to the Lakers for the 2014-15 season. That season, he started 36 of 65 games and averaged 10.0 points a game while shooting 37% from 3-point range. Ellington bounced around the league in subsequent years before returning to the Purple and Gold in 2021. During the 2021-22 campaign, his last in the NBA, he contributed 6.7 points in 18.8 minutes a game and made 38.9% of his 3-point attempts. This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Lakers jersey history No. 2 — Wayne Ellington
Yahoo
8 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Aaron Judge strikes out twice in return from IL, Yankees shut out by Rangers for fifth straight loss
Aaron Judge returned to the New York Yankees Tuesday from a 10-game stint on the injured list. His presence didn't shift the fortunes of a faltering Yankees team. Judge struck out in his first two at-bats and went 0 for 3 at the plate against a sensational effort from Rangers starter Nathan Eovaldi. Texas broke a scoreless tie in the eighth inning to spoil a combined shutout by Yankees pitchers before closer Devin Williams gave up the only runs of the game. Newly acquired reliever Phil Maton held on in the top of the ninth for a 2-0 Texas win win. The loss for the Yankees is their fifth straight and drops them to 7-11 since the All-Star break. It put them at further risk of falling out of the AL playoff picture at 60-54. And it was a microcosm of the problems that have plagued them as they've posted an 18-29 record since the middle of June. New York's vaunted lineup has taken a step back during the slump. It started before Judge went on the injure list with a flexor strain in his right elbow. The Yankees hoped the two-time MVP could provide a spark amid a losing streak. But Eovaldi was in charge Tuesday night. Eovaldi worked Judge to a 1-2 count in the first inning in Judge's first at-bat since June 25. Then he got Judge swinging on a splitter over the plate that dipped below the zone. Judge's second at-bat brought more of the same. Eovaldi worked a 1-2 count with two fastballs and a sweeping curveball that induced a swing-and-miss for strike two. Judge then swung again at a third-strike sinker that dipped below his knees. Judge grounded out in his third at-bat, and his teammates didn't fare much better as Eovaldi pitched eight shutout innings with six striketouts to lower his season-long ERA to 1.38. This story will be updated.
Yahoo
8 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Wings guard Paige Bueckers says she has a pulled back muscle and will take it 'day to day'
NEW YORK (AP) — Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers said Tuesday night she thinks she has a pulled back muscle and will be taking 'day to day.' Bueckers, the No. 1 pick in the draft, left Tuesday night's game against the New York Liberty with 2:37 left in the third quarter and went to the locker room with tightness in her back. She said she stretched the back and received a massage gun treatment before returning to the bench at the start of the fourth and playing in the final period. She finished with 21 points, eight rebounds and four assists in an 85-76 loss. 'I was just dribbling the ball and just felt a tightness come along,' she said of the moment of the strain. 'It's day to day. I'm hoping it won't take me out. Just get some treatment, get some rest. 'I think it's just a pulled muscle. I felt a strain, felt it tighten, so am just getting it worked out." Bueckers is averaging 18.5 points, 3.9 rebounds and 5.5 assists in her rookie season. She leads a struggling Dallas team in points, assists, steals and blocks. ___ AP WNBA:
