Ilya Topuria Responds to Claims of Avoiding Fight with Arman Tsarukyan

The current UFC lightweight champion Ilya Topuria has responded to allegations that he is avoiding a fight with top-ranked Arman Tsarukyan in the same weight class. The Georgian fighter reminded Tsarukyan about his decision to withdraw from a championship fight against Islam Makhachev, which was scheduled for January 2025 (UFC 311).

“Each of us fighters has dealt with back pain, yet we still go out to fight. But for some reason, he did not. He knows very well what we were talking about back then. After making that decision, he had to change his shorts. He had a chance to fight for the championship title but opted out of the match,” ACD MMA quoted Topuria as saying.

It is worth noting that Paddy Pimblett and Justin Gaethje will fight for the interim lightweight title at UFC 324, scheduled to take place in Las Vegas, USA, on January 25, 2026. According to UFC President Dana White, the winner of that bout will face the current lightweight champion Ilya Topuria, who is currently on a short break due to personal issues.