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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UFC News: Arman Tsarukyan Encourages Undefeated Champion To Move Up A Weight Class

Arman Tsarukyan urges the undefeated champion to step up a weight class, challenging him to face new contenders!

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 always been the UFC‘s crown jewel, producing some of the most memorable fights and fighters in the sport’s history. From Khabib Nurmagomedov’s dominance to Conor McGregor’s meteoric rise, this weight class has seen it all.

Now, as fans kick off 2025, another potential blockbuster story is brewing. This has got everyone talking about what could be the next great chapter in lightweight history. Arman Tsarukyan, who will fight for the title at UFC 311, has implored another popular champion to come to their division.

Arman Tsarukyan’s Invitation To Featherweight Champion

Arman Tsarukyan is just days away from his UFC 311 title shot against Islam Makhachev. Despite staying committed to his own fight, Tsarukyan is making waves by rolling out the welcome mat for featherweight champion Ilia Topuria.

Tsarukyan makes a compelling case for Topuria’s move up to lightweight, and honestly, his reasoning shows he’s thinking about more than just fighting. The Armenian warrior sees the bigger picture – more star power means bigger paydays for everyone.

“He should move to 155 because he has a big name. As much as we have big names in our division, it’s better for us. We’re going to make more money, and our weight class is going to be famous. It’s still famous. 155 is one of the best, in my opinion,” said Tsarukyan via MMA Junkie.

He was not wrong when he pointed out the division’s star-studded history. The lightweight division has been home to some of the sport’s biggest names, from McGregor’s loud entrances to Khabib’s quiet dominance.

Also Read: Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Father Recognized Jon Jones’ Skills Long Before His Heavyweight Domination

Tsarukyan has the biggest fight of his life coming up against Islam Makhachev, a rematch of their 2019 battle. That first fight saw Tsarukyan lose a decision in his UFC debut, but he took it on short notice – kind of like showing up to a gun fight with a butter knife. Now he’s got a full camp behind him and a chance to prove how far he’s come.

Ilia Topuria says he’ll be the first person to submit Islam Makhachev:

“If someone could submit him, I will be the first one to submit him.”#UFC #MMA #UFC308 pic.twitter.com/DIF7qMznZn
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) October 26, 2024

As for Ilia Topuria, he has already hinted at a move to the lightweight division. The Georgian-Spanish fighter believed that he would be the first to submit Islam Makhachev. His confidence is palpable. However, the featherweight division still has some contenders to offer, and Dana White would push hard for Topuria to face them first.

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

Arman Tsarukyan

Ilia Topuria

Islam Makhachev

UFC

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!