At UFC 317 in Las Vegas, Paddy Pimblett faced off against lightweight champion Ilia Topuria moments after Topuria defeated Charles Oliveira to claim the title. MMA legend Demetrious Johnson expressed his disapproval of Pimblett being considered for the Ilia Topuria next title challenge over Arman Tsarukyan, the current number one contender.
Despite UFC President Dana White stating the post-fight confrontation between Pimblett and Topuria “shouldn’t have happened,” he did not confirm that Pimblett would receive the next shot at the lightweight belt. Johnson believes Tsarukyan, who is ranked first, deserves the opportunity based on merit rather than marketability.
Johnson Urges Recognition of Arman Tsarukyan’s Position
Johnson made his stance clear on his YouTube channel, saying,
“It needs to be him, Arman Tsarukyan.”
He added,
“This is why I say [UIFC] it’s a reality TV show. It’s like, obviously Arman Tsarukyan is the number one contender. He’s ranked number one.”
Tsarukyan recently defeated Oliveira by split decision in April 2024 and was initially set for a title fight against Islam Makhachev before health issues forced him out just hours before weigh-ins in January.
Serving as the backup fighter at UFC 317, Tsarukyan made weight ahead of the event. However, White has yet to confirm whether Tsarukyan will be next in line to challenge Topuria.
Johnson criticized the matchmaking process, stating,
“Whatever you guys wanna go by the rankings, but they’re force in this fight with Paddy Pimblett versus Ilia Topuria just because it’s probably gonna sell more. But I think the rightful person who should be getting the next title shot at lightweight is Arman Tsarukyan.”
Views on Topuria’s Reign and Future Prospects
Johnson predicted Topuria would overcome Oliveira due to their fighting styles and praised Topuria’s achievements, noting his successive knockouts against former champions. He acknowledged Topuria’s rise by mentioning his victories over prominent fighters such as Alexander Volkanovski, Max Holloway, and Oliveira, which secured Topuria’s second belt.
Despite Topuria’s promising future, Johnson expressed skepticism about the length of his career, forecasting a brief run at the top.
“Ilia is going to be a guy that fights who fights three or four more times and retires,”
Johnson commented.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is Ilia Topuria Turkish?
A. Ilia Topuria, born on January 21, 1997, is a professional mixed martial artist from Georgia and Spain. He fights in the Lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and holds the title of UFC Lightweight Champion.