Khabib Nurmaomgedov doesn’t believe Ilia Topuria can beat Arman Tsarukyan.
At the beginning of 2025, all the talk was about Topuria moving up to lightweight to challenge Islam Makhachev for the title. Instead, Makhachev also moved up, leaving Topuria to fight Charles Oliveira for the vacant belt, knocking him out at UFC 317. Now the question turns to who Topuria will make his first defense against, and if that ends up being Tsarukyan, Nurmagomedov believes it will be a short reign for “El Matador.”
“I don’t see a chance for Topuria,” Nurmagomedov told Kamil Gadzhiyev (h/t Championship Rounds). “A big punch is a [not going to work]. Arman fights with strikers from a distance too much. He keeps his distance well, works better with his legs, and now Arman is too good. He already has material he can watch and study well. If three fights ago he fought with him, maybe he wouldn’t, but now you can already see what to fear from Topuria.
“I think right now, the best lightweight is [Tsarukyan].”
Nurmagomedov is one of the main coaches and former training partners of Makhachev, and as such, has some experience with Tsarukyan, who they fought once and were expecting to face again in January at UFC 311 until a last-minute issue forced Tsarukyan from the fight. Given that knowledge, he explains why he is so high on Tsarukyan’s chances against Topuria.
“Arman can take him down,” Nurmagomedov said. “He has good elbows on the ground. Very good elbows. He can wrestle, armbar, take the back. But he simply won’t fight at this dangerous distance with Topuria. There are too many fights already he can watch, study. If at the beginning they somehow fought, maybe he would have a chance.”
“I’d say it’s 80-20 in Arman’s favor. … Wrestling has always ruled, especially in such fights. We all know the level of wrestling that Holloway and Charles Oliveira had. It’s practically nonexistent. … He’s only fought strikers. [Alexander] Volkanovski doesn’t wrestle. His other opponents didn’t wrestle. Who did he fight [that wrestles]? Just name at least one.”
Unfortunately for Tsarukyan, he may not get the chance to prove Nurmagomedov right. Though he is currently the top contender in the UFC rankings, his issues at UFC 311 have Tsarukyan on the outside looking in at a title shot. While nothing is official, it seems names like Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett may be in front of him in the title conversation. But, Nurmagomedov says, they can only deny him for so long.
“It will be an interesting fight,” Nurmagomedov said. “I know the UFC is cautious, they don’t want to throw him to Topuria too quickly. Right now, Topuria is a bigger star than Arman. … But if Arman gets a big win, where can they hide him? They won’t be able to.”
TOP STORIES
Assault. ‘It was bad judgement’: Raja Jackson, Rampage Jackson’s son, appears to assault pro wrestler at event in video.
Results. Johnny Walker upsets Zhang Mingyang, Aljamain Sterling dominates Brian Ortega at UFC Shanghai.
Nightmare. Aljamain Sterling reveals he faced a ‘living nightmare’ during Brian Ortega fight at UFC Shanghai.
Superfight. Islam Makhachev open to superfight with Ilia Topuria after fighting Jack Della Maddalena.
Return. ‘Why the f*ck would I go back?’: Luke Rockhold skeptical about returning to MMA.
Title shot. Corey Anderson recounts UFC executive telling him why he wasn’t receiving title shot.
Rankings. MMA Pound-for-Pound Rankings: How far does Dricus du Plessis fall after UFC 319 flop?
Highlights. Missed Fists | Power goes off but fight goes on during Octagon event.
VIDEO STEW
UFC Shanghai post show.
Every finish from UFC Shanghai.
Johnny Walker finds out he got a bonus after upsetting Zhang Mingyang at UFC Shanghai.
Yours truly reacting to Raja Jackson story.
Sean O’Malley talks about Contender Series.
SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE
“This ain’t MLS money” is an incredible line from Aljo.
Also, Aljo on his fight.
Johnny Walker.
Sean Strickland.
Sean O’Malley.
Reasonable callout.
Michael Chandler has the shortest golf shorts I’ve ever seen.
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Josh Emmett (19-5) vs. Youssef Zalal (17-5-1); UFC 320, Oct. 4.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Good on Johnny Walker for the big win, and terrible on Raja Jackson for what seems to be one of the more despicable things of the year. No UFC event this week so buckle up for some hot Misfits action.
Love y’all.
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