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. <\/p>
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.<\/p>
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.<\/p>
“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.”<\/em><\/strong><\/p>