Latest news with #Tsarukyan
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Paul Felder criticizes Ilia Topuria for preferring vacating over fighting Arman Tsarukyan
Paul Felder is tired of UFC champions not fighting the rightful No. 1 contenders. Felder was particularly talking about UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria (17-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC), who said he'd vacate the title before fighting Arman Tsarukyan (23-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC). Felder acknowledges it may be gamesmanship by Topuria, but can't help but be baffled by this mindset. "The guy's the No. 1 contender," Felder said of Tsarukyan on the "Believe You Me" podcast. "And to say that you would rather relinquish the belt than fight him is? Come on, man. We're getting a little carried away. We've talked about this before where these guys in this generation of fighters, when they get to this top position now, are so willing to jump around weight classes and and try to deny fighting guys. "It's like, that's not how it f*cking works, man! If the guy's No. 1 and the UFC says, 'This is the guy,' you're the champ. You're holding that belt. That's who you fight. If you're the best and he's not on your level and all this kind of stuff, then prove it! Just go out there and prove it. I hate that, and I'm not saying that I think that he doesn't think he could beat him." Granted, Tsarukyan will likely have to fight one more time after withdrawing from his title fight against Islam Makhachev at UFC 311 in January. Topuria recently said he thinks his first title defense will be against either Justin Gaethje or Paddy Pimblett, but Felder is irked by "El Matador" ruling Tsarukyan out of the equation. "I hate it. I was like, come on, man, here we go," Felder said. "Here we go again. Now you've got a champion who's just looking for the biggest thing. Look, the UFC is not going to try to put you in a position that's not going to be a big thing."
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Dan Hooker not keen on Paddy Pimblett next: 'I think someone's sh*t, then I fight sh*t'
Dan Hooker is seeking the toughest fight possible for his UFC return. Hooker (24-12 MMA, 14-8 UFC) called out Arman Tsarukyan (22-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) and Charles Oliveira for the November pay-per-view card in a series of tweets. He broke down the landscape at lightweight, and why he's zoning in on Tsarukyan, who withdrew from his title fight against Islam Makhachev at UFC 311 in January. "I think they're going to do (Max) Holloway-Oliveira (and) they're going to do (Justin) Gaethje for the title," Hooker told Submission Radio. "That leaves Arman in the lurch. He's stuck fighting me, brother. He's got to fight me to get back in the mix and to get a title shot. And that's always the fight I want, and not because he's a prick and I hate him, but because I genuinely think that he's the harder fight." Hooker was asked about Paddy Pimblett (22-4 MMA, 7-0 UFC), but "The Hangman" took a dig at him when explaining why he'd rather fight Tsarukyan. "I don't think the guy's that good," Hooker said of Pimblett. "And it brings out the best of me when I fight an actual good fighter. Like, when they give me someone that I think I can beat, or I think someone's sh*t, then I fight sh*t. Like, my mind subconsciously relaxes because I think they're sh*t, and then I do sh*t, then they beat me. "But when I fight a guy that I think could kick my ass, then my subconscious goes, 'Oh,sh*t, we might get our ass kicked.' Then I wake up so, I actually end up fighting really well. So, I'd rather just fight the best guy so I actually perform well."
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Arman Tsarukyan: 'You gotta delete' Paddy Pimblett from UFC rankings
Paddy Pimblett shouldn't get the next title shot, or even be in the rankings, according to fellow UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan. After Ilia Topuria won the lightweight title by knocking out Charles Oliveira at UFC 317, Pimblett (23-3 MMA, 7-0 UFC) entered the cage for an intense faceoff. The interaction has led many to believe Pimblett will jump the queue in the lightweight division to get the next title shot, given the bad blood between him and Topuria. Tsarukyan (22-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) believes the next shot is his, and doesn't believe the moment in the cage will change that. "Nobody said he's getting the title shot," Tsarukyan said on "Overdogs Podcast." "So, they are still figuring out who's fighting for the title – me, (Justin) Gaethje, or Paddy. But I know they got to put me because I'm the No. 1 contender right now." Tsarukyan is currently ranked No. 2 in the promotion's official lightweight rankings. The No. 1 spot is held by Islam Makhachev, who recently vacated the title and is expected to fight Jack Della Maddalena for the welterweight title soon. While making a case for his own shot at the title, Tsarukyan torched Pimblett's UFC resume and doesn't even view him as a top-ranked fighter. "You gotta delete him from the rankings, even," Tsarukyan said. "He's not even deserving to be in top 10." Tsarukyan went down the list of recent names that Pimblett has faced, criticizing the strength of schedule. "He beat the last three guys, it was (Michael) Chandler, he had three losses," Tsarukyan said. "It was Bobby Green, he had three, four losses. It was Tony Ferguson, he had eight losses. That's crazy, and like, you want to bring that guy and fight for the title? I don't know. You shouldn't even mention his name, you know? He doesn't even deserve even mentioning his name." Pimblett's last three opponents have a combined UFC record of 30-26-1, while Tsarukyan's last three, Charles Oliveira, Beneil Dariush, and Joaquim Silva, are 46-22-1. To Tsarukyan's point, Pimblett's recent opposition experienced rough stretches before he fought them. Chandler was 1-4 over his previous five, Green fared better at 3-2, but Ferguson was on a six-fight skid, which extended to eight before his exit from the UFC. Tsarukyan was set to challenge Islam Makhachev for the lightweight title at UFC 311 in January, but withdrew during fight week due to an injury. Topuria recently stated he would vacate the title before facing Tsarukyan.
USA Today
24-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ilia Topuria willing to vacate UFC belt before giving Arman Tsarukyan shot; gets response
UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria insists he won't give Arman Tsarukyan a shot at his title. Topuria (17-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) claimed the vacant belt by knocking out Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 earlier this month. He awaits his next title challenger, who he thinks will end up being either Justin Gaethje or Paddy Pimblett. Tsarukyan (23-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) was the No. 1 contender, but after withdrawing from his title fight against Islam Makhachev at UFC 311 just a day before the fight, Dana White said he needs to work his way back. Topuria thinks Tsarukyan would be an unreliable opponent. "Listen, when you put so much effort in the game, and you have a guy in front who you don't know that maybe he could pull out from the fight, that's not something good for us," Topuria told the Nelk Boys. "It's not, 'Ah, my back!' Bro, I don't f*cking care." Topuria went as far as saying he'd vacate the belt before fighting Tsarukyan. "They are going to give him a fight before the title shot because there is no way – I'm the world champion, I'm never going to give him a chance to fight for the title," Topuria said. "I will be like, listen, if that's the case, take my belt. I don't do it." Tsarukyan responded by mocking Topuria for his mindset. "Imagine calling yourself a champion, but you're already looking for a way out. You can vacate it, or I'll take it. Either way, it's mine."
USA Today
14-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Arman Tsarukyan excited to see Khamzat Chimaev fulfill UFC title goal: 'He looks sharp'
Arman Tsarukyan is a part of Khamzat Chimaev's UFC 319 training camp. Chimaev (14-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) challenges middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis (23-2 MMA, 9-0 UFC) in the Aug. 16 main event at United Center in Chicago (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+). He is already in the United States, and is spending his training camp in California prepping with the likes of Tsarukyan, and strength and conditioning coach Sam Calavitta. Top lightweight contender Tsarukyan (22-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) lost a grappling match to Chimaev last December, but the pair have since linked up to train together. "He looks sharp, so (I'm) excited to see him as a UFC champion," Tsarukyan said of Chimaev in a video posted by the JAXXON Podcast. "So far, his camp is going well. He's healthy. He has a lot of energy, and I'm just here to help him. Whatever they need: If they need the wrestling, I'll wrestle. If they need striking, I'll strike. I'm here to help, and I want him to be a UFC champ." Chimaev will finally get an opportunity to realize UFC gold after storming through the welterweight and middleweight ranks. He earned his title shot after submitting former champion Robert Whittaker in the first round at UFC 308.
