Farah Hannoun, MMA JunkieTue, November 25, 2025 at 6:00 PM UTC·1 min readUFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria remains uninterested in fighting Arman Tsarukyan.
If it were up to Topuria (17-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC), chasing a third belt against UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev is the fight to make. However, if he were to stick around at lightweight and defend his belt, Paddy Pimblett (22-4 MMA, 7-0 UFC) is who he wants next.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"I have Paddy on my mind," Topuria told Alvaro Colmenero (h/t Championship Rounds). "I'd like to fight Paddy if they don't let me move up to welterweight to fight Islam because the fight I'd really like is against Islam in the third weight class."
Tsarukyan (23-3 MMA, 10-2 UFC), who dominated Dan Hooker en route to a Round 2 submission at UFC Fight Night 265 this past Saturday in Qatar, thinks Topuria is ducking him.
"Could it be any more obvious that el pato is doing everything in his power to avoid fighting me?"
Makhachev (28-1 MMA, 17-1 UFC) made it clear that he would need massive incentive to consider dropping back down to lightweight for a fight against Topuria. "El Matador" is willing to fight Makhachev under any circumstances.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"If UFC won't let me move up to welterweight to fight Islam, maybe they'll create a new belt called the pound-for-pound title at a catchweight, so I'll fight for that pound-for-pound belt," Topuria said (h/t Red Corner MMA).
More: Ilia Topuria, Paddy Pimblett cross paths at UFC Qatar
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Arman Tsarukyan takes issue with Ilia Topuria wanting Paddy Pimblett
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