Apr 13, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Arman Tsarukyan during UFC 300 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

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Arman Tsarukyan Favors This Fighter In The Potential Topuria vs. Makhachev Showdown!

#1 lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan gives his take on the potential fight between Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria!

Apr 13, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Arman Tsarukyan during UFC 300 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The lightweight division has been a hotbed of excitement lately. With Islam Makhachev firmly established as champion and several contenders vying for position, fight fans are buzzing about potential matchups. Among those eagerly watching from the sidelines is Arman Tsarukyan, who recently shared his thoughts on a hypothetical clash between Makhachev and now former featherweight champion Ilia Topuria.

Tsarukyan was forced to withdraw from his own title shot against Makhachev at UFC 311 due to a back injury. He gave his prediction for the potential Makhachev-Topuria bout based on his own experience.

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Arman Tsarukyan’s Take

The Armenian fighter thinks this matchup is a true toss-up. He believes Topuria’s striking prowess could cause problems, but questions whether he could handle Makhachev’s relentless ground game.

“It is a tough fight. Ilia has better striking, good boxing. But he never fought with guys who can wrestle very well like Islam Makhachev. So we will see. It is a 50-50 fight,” said Tsarukyan via The Schmo.

What makes this potential matchup so intriguing is the clash of styles. Topuria has been steamrolling competition with his boxing-heavy approach, while Makhachev follows in the footsteps of his mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov with dominant wrestling. Tsarukyan, having faced Makhachev himself in 2019, understands the champion’s strengths better than most.

The discussion comes at an interesting time in both champions’ careers. Makhachev has cleared out much of the lightweight division’s top contenders, while Topuria has expressed interest in becoming a two-division champion. A champion vs. champion showdown would certainly generate massive interest, though nothing official has been announced by the UFC.

Arman Tsarukyan’s Next Opponent

While speculating about others’ fights is fun, Arman Tsarukyan has his own career to focus on. After losing his title shot opportunity in January, Tsarukyan is eager to get back into action as soon as possible.

“My back is feeling good, and I’m ready. If they’re going to give me a fight in May or end of April, that would be great. I want to fight with contenders. I want someone from top five like Gaethje or Oliveira.”

🚨| Arman Tsarukyan has told @TheSchmo312 that he would like to fight one of Justin Gaethje or Charles Oliviera to earn his rematch with Islam Makhachev. 👀🏆

Which fight do you want next for Tsarukyan? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/ktTmTwUkOM
— MMA Orbit (@mma_orbit) March 11, 2025

Despite being the number one contender before his injury, UFC CEO Dana White made it clear that Tsarukyan would need another win before challenging for the title again. This hasn’t dampened the fighter’s spirits at all.

Justin Gaethje, coming off an impressive performance at UFC 313, seems to be at the top of Tsarukyan’s wishlist. Charles Oliveira represents another intriguing option, given the Brazilian’s status as a former champion and perennial contender. Regardless of who stands across from him next, Tsarukyan’s return will be closely watched by fans and fighters alike. And at just 28 years old, his best days may still be ahead of him.

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

Arman Tsarukyan

Ilia Topuria

Islam Makhachev

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!