Ilia Topuria hasn’t even captured the lightweight title yet, but he’s already setting sights on what comes next. As he prepares to face Charles Oliveira for the vacant belt at UFC 317, Arman Tsarukyan has been named the official backup for the bout. However, the Spanish fighter has made it clear that if he wins, Tsarukyan won’t get a title shot immediately.
The Armenian fighter was scheduled to face Islam Makhachev at UFC 311 but had to withdraw due to a back injury. Since then, he has been sidelined from the division. Tsarukyan is hoping for the next title shot, although he hasn’t made any official announcement regarding his return.
Meanwhile, Topuria, who is set to fight for the vacant lightweight title this weekend, has made it clear that he won’t grant Arman Tsarukyan an immediate shot, despite being the official backup fighter. In a recent interview with the New York Post, ‘El Matador’ said:
“I wouldn’t give him the chance immediately. He needs to win one more fight. He had the opportunity to fight for the title and he pulled out, so he needs to earn his shot against someone like Justin Gaethje or Paddy Pimblett. They need to fight each other.”
Meanwhile, Pimblett has also expressed that he isn’t interested in facing Arman Tsarukyan. Instead, ‘The Baddy’ named Ilia Topuria as the opponent he’s more eager to fight. All in all, the future of the lightweight division looks thrilling for the fans.
Ilia Topuria Says He’s Confident He Can Beat Charles Oliveira
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With UFC 317 right around the corner, the spotlight is on Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira for the vacant lightweight title. Leading up to the showdown, Topuria has boldly claimed he can dominate Oliveira in every area of the fight — striking, grappling, and more.
The two have recently engaged in a rare social media feud, catching fans off guard, especially since Oliveira is usually reserved online. Responding to Oliveira’s claim of having superior punching power, Topuria told Kevin Iole:
“That’s very, very wishful thinking — that he thinks he has a more powerful punch than me. I challenge him: we can do a separate boxing match, grappling match, wrestling match — everywhere, I beat him however I want.”
Topuria made it clear he’s entering UFC 317 with full confidence and zero doubts about the outcome. The fight promises to deliver high-level grappling and striking action for the fans.
Also Read: Charles Oliveira Fires Back At Ilia Topuria, Saying Everyone Knows Who The Real Champion Is
