Ilia Topuria to Be Tagged ‘Public Enemy #1’ if He Avoids Potential No.1 Contender, Says UFC Legend

UFC lightweight champ Ilia Topuria continues to face backlash for his refusal to fight No.2 lightweight and former top contender Arman Tsarukyan.

Ilia Topuria to Be Tagged ‘Public Enemy #1’ if He Avoids Potential No.1 Contender, Says UFC Legend

Ilia Topuria poised to lack enough leverage to snub Arman Tsarukyan (Source: X)

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Usually, one man’s loss is another’s gain. But when a super fight with the former divisional champ falling out, Max Holloway injured, and Justin Gaethje snubbed, lightweight champ Ilia Topuria isn’t yet booked against Arman Tsarukyan. ‘El Matador’ bagged the vacant crown left behind at the UFC 317 PPV main event. After which, Tsarukyan went into overdrive, raking up title talks as the most deserving name.

Arman Tsarukyan was the divisional top contender after all. But per Topuria, the #2 lightweight used up his bragging rights when he pulled out of the UFC 311 weigh-ins due to a back injury. Hence, the newly crowned champ has remained highly neglectful and even said he’d rather relinquish than accept a challenge from Tsarukyan.

For one, the Armenian isn’t that popular of a pay-per-view draw, and many have said there are better options at lightweight. For another, UFC CEO Dana White has folded up and billed that No.2 contender Tsarukyan wouldn’t automatically inherit a title shot anymore. However, he’s projected to be on the right path towards a title track.

The consensus thoughts are split on it, with many billing ‘Ahalkalakets’ deserves his chance once more. Tsarukyan has also been trolling on, trying to bait a nod from the 155-pound champ. The latest to advise the current lightweight king is Henry Cejudo, who thinks Ilia Topuria will be ‘public enemy’ if he doesn’t acknowledge the rightful challenger.

[Topuria] saying he’d never give Arman a chance for the belt, he’d rather relinquish that. The UFC does not want to hear that, man…Once you start thinking you’re bigger than the UFC, you start to become public enemy number one.

Henry Cejudo on ‘Pound 4 Pound’ Podcast

One of the biggest things leading into this souring sentiment was ex-UFC champ Jon Jones, who snubbed a title unifier for almost two years. Then there’s No.1-ranked featherweight Movsar Evloev in Topuria’s old stomping grounds, who is yet to get his dues. Rank and merit do not often transition to straight title shots; Gaethje thinks he is the prime recent example of that.

So, Tsarukyan could naturally mark another top talent not getting what he deserves. Gaethje, with over-the-top retirement talks, has also proved that playing his hand against UFC execs is not a good way to go. Cejudo advised that Topuria shouldn’t snub names that easy and let it fall on matchmakers.

However, not everyone is advising the champ like Cejudo. After punctuating a charged face-off, Paddy Pimblett wants to make this title fight and has predicted a snub for Tsarukyan. Many others, including Pimblett, are pooling in reasons why it should be them. The latter thinks he is the fight to make, and has his own thoughts on it.

Arman Tsarukyan says ‘duck’ Ilia Topuria has to vacate the title

Ilia Topuria is a brand name and sitting on a triple-KO threat that build his title campaign at 145 and 155 pounds. Right now, he’s everything that’s right with UFC, and he became the 10th two-weight champ – first one to do it on an undefeated record (17-0). However, double champ, PPV draw, and a star or not, Cejudo thinks he lacks the leverage to name names and go up against UFC Execs. Tsarukyan has played into that sentiment as well.

Arman Tsarukyan challenges Ilia Topuria to go ahead and vacate
Arman Tsarukyan challenges Ilia Topuria to go ahead and vacate (Source: X)

In a recent media sitdown, Arman Tsarukyan placed a wager and challenged the same. During the phase, he also said Topuria doesn’t have as much say here and UFC execs are (mostly) veering towards placing him against Topuria in a PPV lightweight title fight. To his point, he made a strong parry to the idea of being snubbed, saying that UFC matchmakers haven’t booked him for anything else, just yet.

In a more recent outing, Tsarukyan spoke on it during his open workout media session (for Khamzat Chimaev) at the ‘Jaxxon’ Studio premises. The confident 28-year-old even doused that Topuria should hang up his belt if he feels threatened by the challenge.

If he feels he’s going to lose that fight, it’s better to give up the belt and go up, or wait for what happens with me…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 an easy fight – with Paddy, Gaethje, or somebody.

Arman Tsarukyan to MMAJunkie for UFC 319 Open workout media day session

Tsarukyan has persisted in mocking Topuria online, even creating a social media clip that mimics Tom Aspinall’s ‘duck’ trolling of Jon Jones. For now, it’s up in the air if Tsarukyan will be the first 155-pound title defense to make.

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