Arman Tsarukyan knew he was going to get bombarded with questions about UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria ahead of his fight against Dan Hooker so he largely downplayed the rivalry and stayed focused on the task at hand.
After making quick work of Hooker with a second round submission in the UFC Qatar main event, Tsarukyan wasted no time whatsoever turning his attention towards Topuria while pushing for a showdown with him sooner than later. Topuria claimed the vacant lightweight title back in July
but as of yet, he hasn’t booked his first title defense as champion and Tsarukyan says the choice is clear about who deserves that opportunity.
“I didn’t want to mention Ilia [too much] because I was focused on my fight,” Tsarukyan said at the UFC Qatar post-fight press conference. “After today, I’m going to try to again create some crazy videos that are going to be viral and try to make a joke and to bring a lot of eyes for that fight. Because it’s a media sport, too. You’ve got to be a good fighter and a good showman.
“In my mind, I can strike with him in the long distance but when he wants to try to box me and throw his hard punch, I’m going to shoot and take him down. I believe in myself and I know I can beat him so easy as well.”
There actually was a brief moment when Tsarukyan and Topuria were near each other during fight week but neither competitor seemed to acknowledge the other.
Tsarukyan admits he didn’t even realize Topuria was right there in front of him but even if they came face-to-face, he wasn’t trying to engage in some sort of encounter that could have potentially led to a physical altercation.
“To be honest, I didn’t actually see him either,” Tsarukyan said. “If I did know that it was him, I didn’t realize it in the moment. But if I did know it was him, I would probably try to find him, maybe see his gaze and look in his eyes.
“But to be honest, we have nothing personal between us. This is all media, this is all hype. Obviously, we’re trying to hype up the fight but specifically personal, we don’t have anything. Because if we had anything, I’m sure we would take care of it by now.”
Personal or not, Tsarukyan is convinced that Topuria is doing everything possible to avoid a fight against him, especially after watching him dismantle and finish Hooker inside two rounds on Saturday.
“You’ve got to ask him what he thinks about my performance,” Tsarukyan said about Topuria. “I don’t know if he’s watching or not but probably not because he doesn’t want to fight me.”
Topuria hasn’t commented on the fight because he was primarily at UFC Qatar to corner and coach his brother Aleksandre Topuria in his own matchup. That said, Topuria has previously touted his lack of interest in Tsarukayan as an opponent and even teased that he might just go up to welterweight instead so he could pursue a third title with hopes he could face new UFC champion Islam Makhachev.
“He should [move to welterweight],” Tsarukyan said. “He said if you’re going to give me Arman, I’m going to leave this title. He should leave that title and give me anybody.
“I’m not looking for easy fights. I can fight with anybody and the UFC knows I’m open to anybody. I don’t know, he’s trying to not call my name. He knows that the No. 1 [contender] and real fighter, it’s me.”
Following a long layoff between fights, Tsarukyan was understandably happy to get back to work on Saturday while taking out another top 10 ranked contender in Hooker.
Ideally that victory leads him to a title shot but Tsarukyan made it clear that he’s willing to do whatever it takes if it means he’s getting a chance at UFC gold. That includes competing again as early as January when the UFC kicks off its new broadcast deal with Paramount with a marquee main event still to be determined for that event.
“Of course. I can rest one week, fly to U.S. and stay there for two months,” Tsarukyan said about fighting in January. “It’s enough time to get ready. I didn’t get any injuries, thank god, and they have to say that.
“Hopefully on Tuesday, they announce that fight, me fighting in the main event with Topuria, whether it’s going to be in Vegas or Los Angeles, I’m ready. I’ve got to take the chance and I have plenty of time to get ready.”
