Aug 16, 2019; Anaheim, CA, USA; Daniel Cormier reacts during weigh ins for UFC 241 at Anaheim Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

mma

DC vs. Khabib? Daniel Cormier Strongly Disagrees With Khabib Nurmagomedov’s ‘80-20’ Breakdown Of Arman Tsarukyan vs Ilia Topuria

Aug 16, 2019; Anaheim, CA, USA; Daniel Cormier reacts during weigh ins for UFC 241 at Anaheim Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

UFC fight predictions can be tricky business, even for the most experienced fighters and coaches. Veterans of the sport understand that anything can happen when two elite athletes step into the octagon. The unpredictable nature of combat sports has humbled many experts over the years, creating memorable moments when underdogs shock the world or heavy favorites fall flat on their faces. This uncertainty is what makes the sport so compelling to watch and so difficult to analyze accurately.

Khabib Nurmagomedov has earned tremendous respect throughout the MMA community for his undefeated record and analytical mind. The retired lightweight champion has built a reputation as someone who understands the intricacies of fighting better than most people on the planet. His insights carry significant weight because he dominated the most competitive division in the sport. When ‘The Eagle’ speaks about potential matchups or offers predictions, fighters and fans typically listen carefully to what he has to say. But this time with his analysis of a potential Ilia Topuria vs Arman Tsarukyan fight, his friend Daniel Cormier has disagreed.

Daniel Cormier Questions His Teammate’s Math

Daniel Cormier found himself in the unusual position of publicly disagreeing with his longtime friend and training partner over a recent prediction. Khabib claimed that Arman Tsarukyan would beat Ilia Topuria eight times out of ten in a hypothetical matchup. He essentially gave the Armenian fighter an 80-20 advantage.

Khabib doesn't see Ilia Topuria having a chance against Arman Tsarukyan 😳

"I believe right now, the best lightweight is [Tsarukyan]… I'd say it's 80%-20% in Arman's favor.

We all know the level of wrestling that Holloway and Charles Oliveira had. It's practically… pic.twitter.com/lay29wEHiN
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) August 25, 2025

This bold assessment caught Cormier completely off guard, prompting the former two division champion to voice his concerns on his YouTube channel. The veteran commentator called Khabib’s breakdown “crazy” and expressed genuine surprise at such lopsided odds.

“80%-20% is crazy, though…The only time 80%-20% could be thought of in fights has been in the case of Khabib and Jon Jones. They’re the only people that have gone through this whole thing without losing. Guess who else hasn’t lost? Ilia Topuria. To put him on the opposite side of that 80%-20% is crazy. I don’t believe that for one second. I really do disagree with Khabib on that one.”

❗️Daniel Cormier disagrees with Khabib’s opinion on Arman vs Ilia Topuria being 80-20 in favour of Arman

"80%-20% is crazy— There is not a guy in the world that I believe is gonna beat Ilia Topuria 8 out of 10 times."

via @dc_mma
pic.twitter.com/b0jpCAJYe2
— Dovy🔌 (@DovySimuMMA) August 28, 2025

Cormier’s pushback stems from his belief that only truly dominant champions like Nurmagomedov himself and Jon Jones deserve such overwhelming favor in any potential matchup. He pointed out that both of those legends went through their entire careers without suffering defeats. However, Cormier noted that Topuria also remains undefeated with a perfect 17-0 record, making it strange to place him on the wrong side of such uneven odds. The former champion made it clear that he couldn’t think of any current fighter who would beat Topuria eight times out of ten attempts.

Making The Case for Both Fighters

Arman Tsarukyan has certainly earned his reputation as one of the most skilled lightweights in the world. The Armenian fighter hasn’t competed since his decision victory over Charles Oliveira at UFC 300. He was originally scheduled to challenge Islam Makhachev for the lightweight title before withdrawing due to injury issues at UFC 311. His well-rounded skill set and experience make him a legitimate threat to anyone in the lightweight division.

Meanwhile, Ilia Topuria has looked absolutely unstoppable since joining the UFC roster, capturing the lightweight title with devastating knockout power. The Georgian-Spanish fighter has dismantled every opponent placed in front of him, including former champions and longtime contenders who seemed impossible to finish. Cormier’s defense of Topuria makes sense when considering that undefeated fighters deserve more respect in hypothetical matchups.

(Image Credit: Gary A. Vasquez – Imagn Images)

Arman Tsarukyan

Daniel Cormier

Ilia Topuria

Khabib Nurmagomedov

Zaid Quraishi

mma

I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!