Ilia Topuria continues to dismiss the idea of defending his lightweight title against top contender Arman Tsarukyan, despite growing calls for the matchup.
Topuria has repeatedly said he wants nothing to do with Tsarukyan after the Armenian withdrew on short notice from a planned January title fight. Even after Tsarukyan’s dominant win over Dan Hooker on 22 November, the champion remains uninterested.
Instead, Topuria has narrowed his list of preferred opponents to just two names: Paddy Pimblett or Islam Makhachev.
Speaking with Alvaro Colmenero, Topuria made it clear that his dream matchup would be a welterweight title bout against newly crowned champion Islam Makhachev. If the UFC refuses to let him chase a third weight-class title, he wants to defend against Pimblett at 155lbs.
“I have Paddy on my mind,” Topuria said. “I’d like to fight Paddy if they don’t let me move up to welterweight to fight Islam, because the fight I’d really like is against Islam in the third weight class.”
Pimblett has risen in the rankings despite being inactive since April, fuelling speculation he may be lined up for a title shot. Topuria’s stance also means both Tsarukyan and Justin Gaethje—who has said he will retire if denied the next shot—have been overlooked.
Topuria is not expected to return in January as previously hoped. With Amanda Nunes vs Kayla Harrison being targeted for that event, the lightweight champion says he currently has “nothing on the horizon” and has not been approached by the UFC.
Whoever Topuria faces next, fans may have to wait a bit longer to find out.
