Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

“He’s Not McGregor” – Arman Tsarukyan Goes Off on Ilia Topuria – Calls Him Names for Making Champions Look Bad

With the lightweight title in play, Arman Tsarukyan and Ilia Topuria exchange heated, crude barbs.

Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

In a heated war of words that’s lighting up the MMA world, top lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan has publicly called out Ilia Topuria for allegedly ducking him as a title challenger. The outburst came after Topuria won the UFC lightweight title, after moving up the division, with a thunderous knockout of Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 on June 28.

While fans speculated who Topuria might face in his first defense, names like Paddy Pimblett and Justin Gaethje floated freely. While Tsarukyan believes he should be next in line and is not happy about being left out of the conversation.

Arman Tsarukyan continues to go after Ilia Topuria over his behavior as champion 👀😤 pic.twitter.com/h0HhiaSPTg
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) August 1, 2025

The Heat Behind the Callout

The feud escalated when Topuria took a shot at Tsarukyan during his appearance on the ‘Full Send Podcast’ with the Nelk Boys, referencing the lightweight contender’s withdrawal from a title fight against Islam Makhachev earlier this year due to a back injury. Topuria claimed he’d rather vacate his newly won title than risk facing someone he doesn’t trust to make it to fight night.

He said, “When you put so much effort [into] the game and you have a guy in front [of you], who you don’t know that maybe he could pull out from the fight, that’s not something good for us. ‘Oh my back.’ Bro, I don’t fu***ng care. I’m the world champion, I’m never gonna give him a chance to fight for the world title… If that’s the case, take my belt. I don’t do it.”

Topuria’s jab didn’t go unanswered. Tsarukyan, who previously edged out Oliveira at UFC 300 in April 2024, fired back on X: “Who wants to let Ilia know he’s not McGregor, and that he’s making all the champs look bad – champs fight the #1 contender…. but this is the same guy who thinks he’s the “bmf” 😂 how do you say “p**sy” in Spanish?”

The Armenian-Russian fighter continued the heat, saying, “Imagine calling yourself a champion, but you’re already looking for a way out. You can vacate it, or I’ll take it. Either way, it’s mine.”

Arman Tsarukyan training in Alicante, Spain – the former city of Ilia Topuria

“Still training… and the duck is still ducking” pic.twitter.com/2DvyROqga3
— Dovy🔌 (@DovySimuMMA) July 31, 2025

Is Ilia Topuria Picking Fights or Ducking Them?

The MMA community is split. While Topuria has racked up dominant wins, first by dethroning Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298, then defending against Max Holloway at UFC 308, and finally conquering Oliveira at UFC 317, his public reluctance to face Tsarukyan has drawn sharp criticism.

Still mine 😎 pic.twitter.com/1Z7qWeXXGM
— Ilia Topuria (@Topuriailia) July 20, 2025

Veteran fighter-turned-analyst Paul Felder echoed those concerns on the ‘Believe You Me’ podcast, “Why’s the champ calling out Paddy Pimblett when Tsarukyan is sitting right there? This isn’t how titles should be defended.”

Some even liken Topuria’s stance to Jon Jones’ infamous refusal to fight interim heavyweight champ Tom Aspinall, opting instead to vacate his belt.

Is Ilia Topuria ducking Arman Tsarukyan? pic.twitter.com/dWithxMxFG
— MMA On Point (@OnPointMMA) July 24, 2025

Even though serving as the backup for UFC 317 and having previously been scheduled to face Islam Makhachev, Tsarukyan still doesn’t have an official announcement from the UFC for a title shot. But I’m the fight that matters.

Mandatory Image Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

Arman Tsarukyan

Ilia Topuria

Rudra Dubey

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I’m an academic turned sports writer from Raipur, India, specializing in the NFL, MMA, and tennis at The Playoffs. I previously wrote for Sportskeeda and hold a B.A. and M.A. in History. My journey into sports media began far from the field, rooted in the arts and sciences. Funny enough, I didn’t grow up a sports fan; I used to see it all as just noise. But a fateful writing job introduced me to the world of sports, and what began as a gig quickly became a passion. I understood those voices aren’t noise; they’re emotions of true sports fans, and now I am one of them, writing with the same energy I once questioned.