Ilia Topuria isn’t buying what Arman Tsarukyan’s social media is selling.
A glance at Tsarukyan’s Instagram paints the picture of a fighter not starving for his next bout agreement, as the top UFC lightweight contender is frequently shown driving fancy cars, eating extravagant meals, and generally flaunting his wealth.
According to Topuria, who is set to defend his lightweight championship in a unification bout against interim champion Justin Gaethje at UFC White House on June 14, Tsarukyan’s affluence is all an illusion.
“He has the mind of a little kid,” Topuria told Alvaro Colmenero. “He’s a manchild who is playing a game. I think he’s playing the rich guy game. He’s neither rich nor is his father, I’m telling you. He’s just not. I know a huge amount of rich people, none of them, none, like not a single one of them is like that.
“He’s playing a game of buying a car and sending it to Russia to resell it. And I think he’s not even rich, I’m telling you. He’s a loser.”
While Tsarukyan’s financial standing may be in question, what’s not is his in-cage success. Tsarukyan is currently MMA Fighting’s No. 2 lightweight, behind only Topuria, having won five straight fights and 10 of his past 11. Were it not for his extracurricular antics that have rubbed UFC officials the wrong way on more than one occasion, he would likely be guaranteed the winner of Topuria’s clash with Gaethje.
As it stands, Tsarukyan is scheduled to be the backup for the UFC White House main event, which Topuria is fine with, though he doubts Tsarukyan has any interest in actually stepping into the cage with him.
“If they give Tsarukyan a week’s notice, he won’t fight me at the White House,” Topuria said. “He only shows up to make weight because they always put him as a backup since my fights actually matter. Since he needs the money, he’ll go make weight.”
Regardless of what Topuria thinks, the UFC is lining Tsarukyan up to potentially play the spoiler should Gaethje be unable to compete, so should Topuria add some extra preparation to his UFC White House training camp?
“I mean, what he can bring to the fight is wrestling,” Topuria said. “I’ve been wrestling since I can remember. I’m prepared to the maximum, I prepare for any type of scenario. I’m ready. I’d start the fight, I’d be fully focused, what I’ve always talked about.
“I’d look for that dominance from the start with wrestling. He’d realize very, very quickly that I’m made of different stuff. That I’m like nothing he’s faced before.”
Excuses. Dricus du Plessis doesn’t want to hear about Khamzat Chimaev’s UFC 328 weight-cut issues.
Dirty. Phumi Nkuta calls Adriano Moraes out for controversial submission at MVP MMA: Rousey vs. Carano.
Bored. King Green takes aim at Islam Makhachev and Khamzat Chimaev for their wrestling-heavy styles.
Free? ONE Championship suspends John Lineker for failed drug test and then makes him a free agent.
Bogus. Hype Brazil accused of not paying its fighters.
Looking ahead to UFC 329.
UFC BJJ 8 prelims free on YouTube.
SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE
The definitive fight week schedule.
The GOAT show returns in less than a month.
Don’t give Netflix ideas.
Farid Basharat (15-0) vs. Ethyn Ewing (10-2); UFC Vegas 119, June 20
Karol Rosa (19-7) vs. Luana Santos (10-2); UFC Vegas 119, June 20
Jhonata Diniz (9-2) vs. Jose Montanha (6-1); UFC Vegas 119, June 20
Bia Mesquita(7-0) vs. Melissa Mullins (7-2); UFC Vegas 119, June 20
Ion Cutelaba (20-11-1, 1 NC) vs. Navajo Stirling (9-0); UFC Vegas 119, June 20
Andre Lima (11-0) vs. Kevin Borjas (10-5); UFC Vegas 119, June 20
Gaston Bolanos (8-5) vs. Michael Aswell (11-4); UFC Vegas 119, June 20
Hyder Amil (11-2) vs. Christian Rodriguez (12-4); UFC Vegas 119, June 20
Allan Nascimento (22-6) vs. Mitch Raposo (10-3); UFC Vegas 119, June 20
Melsik Baghdasaryan (8-3) vs. Murtazali Magomedov (10-0); UFC Vegas 119, June 20
Dricus du Plessis and Michael Morales are both teasing fight announcements. Who’s next for these two?
Next fight for DDP?
Dricus du Plessis tells Fight Forecast he expects his next fight to be announced within “the next week or so,” who is it going to be?
We haven’t seen the South African star since he dropped the middleweight belt to Khamzat Chimaev, seemingly pushing him out of the title picture. However, with Chimaev subsequently losing to Sean Strickland-a man du Plessis has defeated twice-the contender picture has become much murkier.
Is it far-fetched for du Plessis to get an immediate trilogy bout with Strickland? Probably, so who does DDP have to beat to earn another championship opportunity?
Tell us who you think du Plessis is fighting next in the poll below.
Closes in 2 days • 67 total votesView results
Nassourdine ImavovCaio BorralhoJoe PyferKamaru UsmanSean Strickland trilogyOther (leave a comment!)
Michael Morales teases fight for August. Who will it be?
The welterweight title picture is still murky as hell, but maybe we’re gonna get some movement soon.
On Wednesday, Michael Morales teased he’s got a fight set for August.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DYkS6p6lvqT/?img_index=1
So, who do you think it’s going to be?
Islam Makhachev is rumored to be coming back in August, though Ian Machado Garry is also rumored to be taking that fight. Did something happen? Or is it the Carlos Prates fight we all want? Or something else entirely.
Sound off in the comments.
Closes in 2 days • 72 total votesView results
Islam MakhachevIan Machado GarryCarlos PratesOther
Uhhh, excuse me, Ilia, are you telling me everything I see on social media might not be real? Rude.
No Morning Report on Friday, but we will be back with your usual programming on Monday. Take care, everyone!
If you find something you’d like to see in the Morning Report, hit up @AlexanderKLee of @JedKMeshew on Twitter and let us know about it. Also, follow MMAFighting on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Twitch, and like us on Facebook.
