Arman Tsarukyan confident of out-wrestling Ilia Topuria after seeing the ‘worst’ UFC featherweight take him down
Arman Tsarukyan insists he’d have little trouble besting Ilia Topuria on the ground.
Tsarukyan is among those vying to be Topuria’s first challenger in the aftermath of last Saturday’s UFC 317 pay-per-view in Las Vegas.
In the main event on June 28, Topuria knocked out Charles Oliveira to win the vacant lightweight title and complete his ascent to two-division glory.
Given his well-rounded arsenal, many are predicting the continuation of Topuria’s dominance for the months and years to come. Tsarukyan, however, sees a major hole that he can expose.
Arman Tsarukyan highlights Bryce Mitchell’s moments of success against Ilia Topuria
During a recent interview with former fighter and UFC color commentator Daniel Cormier, Tsarukyan broke down how he’d stack up against the newly crowned champion at 155 pounds.
‘El Matador’ hasn’t shown much of a weakness throughout his undefeated career to date, but the Russian-Armenian spotted one in late 2022 when Topuria submitted Bryce Mitchell at UFC 282.
While the performance was largely dominant for the then-future champ, he did at one stage find himself getting taken down and controlled on the ground. And if the “worst” featherweight can do that, Tsarukyan expects to have a comfortable time replicating the feat.
“I just need the fight and (I will) show everybody I’m a different fighter,” Tsarukyan said. “I’ve been improving so much.
“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 (division). He took him (Topuria) down and held him,” Topuria added. “Even he took him down and he couldn’t escape for like one minute.
“I can tell he is not high level.”
Arman Tsarukyan accuses Ilia Topuria of ‘avoiding’ the hardest challenge
Tsarukyan was in attendance at UFC 317, having successfully weighed in as the main event backup the day before.
But that fight week weight cut and his status as No. 2-ranked contender weren’t enough to ensure he’d be facing off with the headline winner at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena. Instead, Topuria faced off with bitter rival Paddy Pimblett before security intervened.
‘Akhalkalakets’ was unsurprisingly left enraged by the snub.
“It was never supposed to be Charles,” Tsarukyan wrote on X. “I can finish Ilia, simple as that. And he knows it too. That’s why he’s avoiding the real #1 contender.”
In another post, the Russian-Armenian accused Topuria of running from the biggest threat to his newly started title reign.
“Running from the real contender only proves one thing – you’re scared. Deep down, you know exactly what happens if you ever step in there with me @Topuriailia.”
