Arman Tsarukyan suggests perfect comeback fight for Ilia Topuria after June 14 title loss
Top 155-pound contender Arman Tsarukyan believes the UFC is going to try to protect Ilia Topuria and make sure he wins his next bout. Tsarukyan has a perfect fighter in mind whom he says should face “El Matador” next.
This past weekend at the White House, Topuria was dethroned by Justin Gaethje. Although many counted “The Highlight” out, come fight night, after overcoming major adversity in Round 2 of the lightweight title unification clash, Gaethje started dismantling Topuria’s face to an extent that the 29-year-old’s corner had to stop the bout after Round 4.
The fight was stopped as Topuria could barely see after absorbing significant damage to his face and eye area from Gaethje.
After the title loss, “El Matador” has promised a strong return and has also shown interest in running it back with Gaethje. But “The Highlight” believes there’s no question of a rematch, as he made Ilia Topuria quit on the stool.
Now, “Ahalkalakets” has a perfect opponent in mind whom he believes should fight Topuria whenever the latter returns to the octagon.
On The Ariel Helwani Show, the Armenian opined that Topuria should take on the 40-year-old Michael Chandler. Meanwhile, Helwani suggested that Topuria would fight arch-rival Paddy Pimblett. But Tsarukyan thinks Pimblett boasts a solid chin and cannot be knocked out, which is why Topuria should avoid that matchup and instead take on “Iron.”
“Paddy is not the best matchup for him [Ilia Topuria], after that [Gaethje] loss. Because Paddy has a good chin, it’s difficult to knock him out. 5 rounds, it’s gonna be tough with Paddy… Just give [Topuria] Michael Chandler [laughs]. Come back, knock him out. They [UFC] gotta protect him.”
Check out Arman Tsarukyan’s comments below:
The same night Topuria lost his lightweight belt, Michael Chandler was also knocked out by Mauricio Ruffy in Round 1 at UFC Freedom 250 and is now on a four-fight losing skid.
Arman Tsarukyan says Ilia Topuria is easy game for two-division UFC champ
Arman Tsarukyan believes that if two-division UFC champion and pound-for-pound king Islam Makhachev had to take on Ilia Topuria this past weekend at the White House, the Dagestani wrestling maestro would have submitted “El Matador” in Round 1. He told Ariel Helwani:
“Islam would’ve finished Ilia in the first round, choked him out.”
Check out Arman Tsarukyan’s comments below:
Islam Makhachev most recently took digs at Topuria after the 29-year-old Georgian-Spaniard’s face looked like a horror movie scene after fighting Gaethje.
Check out Islam Makhachev’s comments below:
The Russian fighter had previously claimed that he was going to fight Topuria at the White House, but “El Matador” needed a massive payday to fight the former. Thus, the UFC brass changed their plans and brought Gaethje in to face Topuria.
