Arman Tsarukyan has confidently stated that he would have little difficulty defeating Ilia Topuria in wrestling exchanges, directly challenging the reigning champion’s ground game. This bold assertion arrives shortly after Topuria secured his title at UFC 317 in Las Vegas last Saturday, where Tsarukyan remains among the leading contenders aiming to become the first fighter to defend against the new lightweight champion.

At UFC 317 on June 28, Ilia Topuria crowned his rapid rise by knocking out submission expert Charles Oliveira in the first round, completing his status as a two-division UFC champion. Tsarukyan himself, a notable contender from American Top Team (ATT), previously also defeated Oliveira, known as “Do Bronx,” reinforcing his place near the top of the lightweight division. Tsarukyan’s confidence stems from analyzing Topuria’s wrestling performances, suggesting that the Georgian-Spanish fighter shows fatigue and limitations when faced with high-level wrestling specialists.

Tsarukyan Highlights Topuria’s Wrestling Weaknesses

Tsarukyan cited Topuria’s early fights and engagements with wrestlers as evidence of the champion’s grappling vulnerabilities, emphasizing endurance issues and his lack of experience against freestyle wrestling techniques. The Armenian contender referenced Bryce Mitchell, a featherweight wrestler regarded as one of the less dominant competitors at 145 pounds, who nonetheless successfully controlled Topuria during their fight.

I watched his first fight and he was wrestling a little bit and he got tired so much. And he’s never fought with wrestlers like me, who knows like freestyle wrestling…Bryce Mitchell, he is the worst fighter in the 145 …He took him [Topuria] down and held him, …Even he took him down and he couldn’t escape for like one minute…I can tell he is not high-level.
—Arman Tsarukyan on Daniel Cormier’s Official YT Channel (@DC_MMA)

In addition, some critics like Club Climent have previously described Topuria as untested in grappling, making comparisons to Islam Makhachev’s wrestling mastery that could potentially exploit such gaps. While Topuria has displayed strong submission skills and demonstrated effective takedown attempts—such as the ankle pick against Oliveira—many experts still anticipate his wrestling may prove less resilient against a superior wrestler like Tsarukyan.

Despite Tsarukyan’s claims, some question the assessment based on Topuria’s fight with Bryce Mitchell, where Mitchell was able to secure very few takedowns, landing only one out of nine attempts. The fight concluded with Topuria submitting Mitchell, highlighting his capability to neutralize wrestling threats. However, Tsarukyan remains convinced that this encounter does not reveal the full picture, asserting that Topuria has yet to face an opponent with his style and wrestling level.

Challenges in Tsarukyan’s Path to a Title Shot

Though seen as the No. 2 lightweight contender, Arman Tsarukyan has faced obstacles blocking an immediate clash with Ilia Topuria. After withdrawing from a scheduled title fight at UFC 311, Tsarukyan has yet to receive a clear shot at the champion despite being on the brink of a PPV main event. UFC President Dana White recently indicated that Tsarukyan’s position as a backup fighter at UFC 317 does not guarantee a direct title opportunity, especially after his earlier withdrawal from a significant fight opportunity.

During an interview on “The Ariel Helwani Show,” Tsarukyan explained his decision to pull out of the UFC 311 PPV weigh-ins, clarifying that he was in good shape but sought a catchweight bout. He also mentioned conflicts with potential opponents training in the same gym, making certain matchups undesirable for him to maintain a smooth training camp.

It was 9 or 8 days before and I was 186 or 187. …I said, ‘Yeah, I’ll fight. I’ll save the fight…but I need a catchweight.’ Gaethje didn’t want to fight me. He picked Fiziev; [For Gamrot] We are from one gym and we train on the same mats. That’s why I said can you give me someone different because I don’t need that drama again. It’s so difficult to have your training camp when you’re fighting with a guy from the same gym.
—Arman Tsarukyan on “The Ariel Helwani Show” for ‘Uncrowned’ Combat

Tsarukyan was later offered a high-profile rematch against Mateusz Gamrot for the headline slot at the UFC’s return event in Abu Dhabi on July 26. Gamrot had previously edged out Tsarukyan via split decision in their first encounter. However, the UFC ultimately booked a different main event featuring Robert Whittaker versus Reinier de Ridder, casting doubt on Tsarukyan’s immediate future return to the Octagon.

Topuria’s Recent Adjustments and Tsarukyan’s Continued Challenge

Following UFC 282, Topuria acknowledged that hydration and weight cutting at lightweight posed significant challenges, a factor that could influence his performance moving forward. He has since committed to improved cutting strategies to maintain competitiveness at 155 pounds. Meanwhile, Tsarukyan has accused the new champion of avoiding a fight with him, labeling it a retreat from the toughest threat to Topuria’s burgeoning title reign.

Currently, Tsarukyan’s next fight is not expected to be against Topuria, but his persistence suggests he will continue pushing for a chance to test the champion’s wrestling against his own. The outcome of such a matchup promises to be a critical measure of Topuria’s ability to defend his ground game and Tsarukyan’s confidence in exploiting that aspect of the champion’s style.

As the lightweight division’s narrative unfolds, Tsarukyan’s forthcoming bouts and his challenge to Topuria’s wrestling proficiency will remain a focal point for fans and analysts watching potential shifts at the sport’s highest levels.

Our Reader’s Queries

Q. Is Ilia Topuria Turkish?

A. Ilia Topuria, born on January 21, 1997, is a professional fighter from Georgia and Spain. He fights in the UFC’s Lightweight category. Currently, he holds the title of UFC Lightweight Champion.