New P4P King Ilia Topuria Dubbed as ‘Scared’ After Looking to Snub Arman Tsarukyan

Top lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan mocks the new champion Ilia Topuria for allegedly avoiding him for his next title defence.

New P4P King Ilia Topuria Dubbed as ‘Scared’ After Looking to Snub Arman Tsarukyan

Arman Tsarukyan makes fun of Ilia Topuria's lack of confidence to fight him (via X/Imago)

At UFC 317, Ilia Topuria became the new lightweight champion after a brutal knockout win over Charles Oliveira. The lightweight division is fiercely competitive, and all top contenders were present at the arena, closely eyeing the new champion. Among them stood Arman Tsarukyan, confidently claiming that he was the most deserving contender to face Topuria next.

Going into the fight, ‘El Matador’ was the clear fan favorite, but finishing it in round one shocked everyone. After the win, Topuria mocked Tsarukyan, saying he was scared and lucky not to be the short-notice replacement. In response, the Armenian took to X, ridiculing Topuria for picking Paddy Pimblett instead of facing a real challenge.

Running from the real contender only proves one thing – you’re scared. Deep down, you know exactly what happens if you ever step in there with me.

Tsarukyan nearly secured a title shot against Islam Makhachev at UFC 311 but withdrew at the last minute, disappointing his fans. Dana White responded strongly, telling Tsarukyan he must earn his way back by defeating top contenders in the division. At UFC 317, he made weight as backup, yet Pimblett’s presence overshadowed his efforts and drew more attention.

After the fight, Pimblett entered the octagon and faced off with Topuria in a heated moment that turned physical quickly. The tension between both fighters was obvious, and the crowd erupted, loving every second of the unexpected drama. At the post-fight press conference, Topuria expressed his desire to destroy Pimblett next and settle their personal feud violently.

The rivalry between Pimblett and Topuria runs deep, with the UK native openly admitting he genuinely hates the ‘El Matador’. This animosity creates a massive pay-per-view opportunity that the UFC might find too tempting to ignore moving forward.

Still, many fans believe Tsarukyan is Topuria’s biggest threat due to his elite wrestling and relentless pressure style. It remains uncertain how the UFC will resolve this growing title contention chaos and choose the rightful next challenger.

The UFC lightweight division is a mess following Ilia Topuria’s win

After the face-off between Paddy Pimblett and Ilia Topuria, Dana White expressed frustration, saying it wasn’t something he had planned. White stated clearly that if he were present, he would’ve prevented Paddy from stepping into the octagon altogether. This reaction surprised many, especially considering the UFC’s consistent support for ‘Baddy’ throughout his rise in the promotion.

Top lightweight contenders
Top lightweight contenders (via MMA Fighting)

It seems White had other plans for Pimblett and didn’t anticipate such a strong reaction from the fans. Meanwhile, veteran Justin Gaethje recently threatened retirement if he wasn’t granted the next lightweight title shot opportunity.

The CEO quickly shut down those demands, saying those negotiation tactics won’t work, dismissing Gaethje’s claims firmly. On the Pound 4 Pound podcast, UFC legend Kamaru Usman discussed the entire situation, offering insight into the division’s chaos.

It’s a mess right now at 155 pounds. It’s very difficult to say Paddy Pimblett, you’re next up when you haven’t fought Arman Tsarukyan, Justin Gaethje, Dustin Poirier, Charles Oliveira. I understand Arman weighed in as a backup…Who’s done more than Justin Gaethje as far as favors for the UFC?

Former double champ Henry Cejudo weighed in, reminding Usman that the UFC doesn’t wait around for anyone’s demands or threats. Acting as a matchmaker, Cejudo proposed a title eliminator bout between Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett to settle the debate. He also backed Arman Tsarukyan, stating the Armenian deserves the next title shot against Ilia Topuria without question.