Arman Tsarukyan has hit back at Ilia Topuria after the lightweight champion’s recent critical comments about him and his social media presence.
Tsarukyan, described as a top lightweight contender, believes Topuria’s remarks come from insecurity and says the champion would avoid a fight if the UFC tried to make it. "He's jealous," Tsarukyan said, questioning why Topuria praises other names in the division but not him. "Then he wants to say I'm nothing, and if UFC offer me him, he's not gonna take it because he wants to tell everyone in this world I'm not in his level. He was saying (Charles) Oliveira is good fighter, (Justin) Gaethje good fighter,Max Hollowaygood fighter, but he didn't say anything about me. How can it be? It's just a joke, you know?"
Tsarukyan also took aim at Topuria’s plan to move to welterweight after his scheduled title unification bout with Justin Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250, where Topuria is targeting a third title that would require facing welterweight champion Islam Makhachev. "If he moves up, it's OK," Tsarukyan said, before adding, "He's gonna move up and Islam's gonna kick his ass, and he's gonna come down, and then I kick his ass, and the UFC just release him."
Despite not fighting in the UFC since submitting Dan Hooker in November, Tsarukyan has stayed active in wrestling and grappling and maintains he can handle Topuria if they ever share the cage. "We'll see when the fight happens," he said. "We'll see how I'm not gonna take him down. I can take down anybody... Just accept the fight."
