Arman Tsarukyan doesn’t see himself getting first crack at Ilia Topuria’s lightweight gold.
After capturing the featherweight division’s top prize in 2024, ‘El Matador’ etched his name in the history books at UFC 317, brutally KO’ing Charles Oliveira in the opening round to capture the 155-crown and become a two-division champion.
Since then, fans have been chomping at the bit to find out who would be first up to challenge Topuria’s lightweight title reign. Many assumed it would be Tsarukyan, considering he is the division’s top-ranked contender.
But according to the man himself, the UFC is much more likely to strike while the iron is hot by putting Paddy Pimblett in that spot over himself and former BMF titleholder Justin Gaethje.