Apr 13, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Arman Tsarukyan (blue gloves) fights Charles Oliveira (red gloves) during UFC 300 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

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Arman Tsarukyan Downplays Ilia Topuria’s Power, Believes Charles Oliveira Was A Tougher Puzzle To Solve

Arman Tsarukyan dismisses Ilia Topuria’s hype, says Charles Oliveira was the bigger threat after UFC 317 win!

Apr 13, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Arman Tsarukyan (blue gloves) fights Charles Oliveira (red gloves) during UFC 300 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The UFC lightweight division has always been a shark tank where confidence can make or break a fighter’s career. One wrong move, one overconfident statement, and they are swimming with predators who smell blood in the water. But sometimes, that confidence comes from a place of genuine belief and technical analysis rather than just bravado. And Arman Tsarukyan has never been one to back down from bold statements.

The Armenian fighter has been brutally honest about his assessments. After watching Ilia Topuria’s stunning knockout victory over Charles Oliveira at UFC 317, most of the MMA world was in awe of ‘El Matador’s’ power and precision. Tsarukyan, however, saw something entirely different. While everyone else was talking about Topuria’s knockout power, Tsarukyan was breaking down the technical aspects and coming to a surprising conclusion.

Arman Tsarukyan Believes Ilia Topuria Is An Easy Oppoenent

Tsarukyan’s confidence stems from his wrestling background and what he perceives as Topuria’s vulnerability on the ground. The lightweight contender pointed out something in his interview with Daniel Cormier that many fans might have overlooked during Topuria’s meteoric rise.

“Bryce Mitchell, he’s the worst fighter at 145, he took him down and held him from a crazy position…I’ll send Topuria back to the Top 15 pound-for-pound. For me, it’s easier to fight Topuria than Oliveira. You can go take him down a thousand times, because he’s not going to try to choke you or something.”

Arman Tsarukyan says Ilia Topuria is an easier fight for him than Oliveira 😳

"He never fought with wrestlers like me… I can tell he's not high level. I can't wait to show everybody.

For me, it's easier to fight Topuria than Oliveira."

🎥 @dc_mma pic.twitter.com/59SwwfIHFf
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) July 1, 2025

Arman Tsarulyan is not just looking at Topuria’s recent highlight-reel knockouts but studying his entire body of work. The Armenian fighter believes that Topuria’s wrestling defense hasn’t been tested by someone with his level of grappling prowess. Tsarukyan has always been known for his relentless wrestling and cardio, traits that have served him well against elite competition.

What makes this analysis particularly interesting is Tsarukyan’s comparison between his UFC 300 fight with Oliveira and a potential matchup with Topuria. He defeated Oliveira in a grueling three-round battle that showcased his ability to neutralize one of the best submission artists in the sport. Beyond wrestling, Tsarukyan highlighted another potential weakness in Topuria’s game. He mentioned watching Topuria’s early fights where the Georgian-Spanish fighter appeared to tire after wrestling exchanges. This observation could be crucial because Tsarukyan’s biggest weapon has always been his relentless pace and cardio.

If Topuria indeed struggles with cardio when forced to wrestle, Tsarukyan’s game plan becomes clearer. He would likely look to drag the fight into deep waters where his conditioning advantage could shine. Whether Tsarukyan’s confidence is justified or misplaced will only be determined if these two elite fighters eventually share the octagon. Until then, its all talk and predictions!

(Image Credit: Mark J. Rebilas – Imagn Images)

Arman Tsarukyan

Charles Oliveira

Ilia Topuria

Zaid Quraishi

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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!