UFC Lightweight Champion Ilia Topuria has expressed a dismissive view of his potential challenger, Arman Tsarukyan. Topuria, who is set to defend his undisputed title against interim champion Justin Gaethje at UFC 250 on June 14, hosted at the White House, did not hold back his opinions on Tsarukyan.
Topuria won the lightweight belt by knocking out Charles Oliveira at UFC 317. Many anticipated Tsarukyan would be the next contender, but the UFC opted to create an interim title, which Gaethje claimed by defeating Paddy Pimblett at UFC 324 while Topuria was inactive. Tsarukyan has remained active, participating in grappling and wrestling events and engaging in public exchanges with Topuria.
Ilia Topuria Criticizes Arman Tsarukyan’s Behavior and Finances
During an interview on The Ariel Helwani Show, Ilia Topuria offered a harsh assessment of Arman Tsarukyan, questioning his maturity and financial claims. While acknowledging Tsarukyan’s fighting skills, Topuria strongly criticized his actions and public image.
“I’m really impressed with how dumb he is,” Topuria stated. “He’s acting like a child. His mentality is that of a kid. He’s incredibly unintelligent. Everything I’ve seen about him online is embarrassing. Who cares about Arman? What I dislike is when they pretend to be wealthy, flaunting money. Dude, you’re not even rich… The only thing you have is money, and you’re spending your father’s money, not even your own. You know what I mean? He’s a grown man acting like a kid.”
Ilia Topuria, 29, remains undefeated with a 17-0 professional record, including a perfect 9-0 in the UFC, with notable wins over Alexander Volkanovski, Max Holloway, and Bryce Mitchell. He has not competed since his victory over Charles Oliveira.
Arman Tsarukyan’s last outing was at UFC Qatar in November, where he secured a second-round submission win against Dan Hooker, extending his winning streak to five. Tsarukyan holds a professional record of 23-3, with a 10-2 record in the UFC, including victories over Charles Oliveira and Beneil Dariush.
