Arman Tsarukyan thinks Ilia Topuria could be a stellar addition to the UFC light-weight division.
Forward of Tsarukyan (22-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) difficult Islam Makhachev (26-1 MMA, 15-1 UFC) for the 155-pound title within the UFC 311 headliner on Jan. 18 in Inglewood, Calif. (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPNews, ESPN+), reigning featherweight champ Topuria has teased a change in division.
Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) altering weight courses looks as if it may very well be an inevitability in his profession, however the questions persist about whether or not it’s going to occur within the quick time period or the long run.
With Tsarukyan doubtlessly on the cusp of claiming the title at light-weight, he thinks Topuria, whom he shares Georgian roots with, would make what’s traditionally been some of the adorned weight courses in MMA historical past even higher.
“He ought to transfer to 155 as a result of he has a giant identify,” Tsarukyan instructed MMA Junkie on Friday. “As a lot as we’ve got massive names in our division, it’s higher for us. We’re going to make more cash, and our weight class goes to be well-known. It’s nonetheless well-known – 155 is among the greatest, for my part, has among the best fighters due to Conor (McGregor), Khabib (Nurmagomedov), Islam, (Dustin) Poirier, (Justin) Gaethje – there’s so many massive names. If Ilia transfer to 155, it’s going to be good for us.”
Whether or not a matchup with Topuria might materialize sooner or later stays to be seen, however for now, Tsarukyan is targeted on the duty at hand.
He has Makhachev, who’s No. 1 pound-for-pound within the UFC’s official rankings, in entrance of him, and it’s a rematch of the primary lack of Tsarukyan’s profession. He suffered a unanimous resolution defeat in his short-notice octagon debut at UFC Combat Evening 149 in April 2019, and Tsarukyan is eager to point out his progress by capturing the belt.
“Proper now we’re the most effective lightweights, I’m No. 1 and he’s the champion,” Tsarukyan mentioned. “I’m so well-rounded and I understand how to wrestle, grapple and he is aware of, as effectively. It’s going to be so attention-grabbing struggle. If I used to be a fan, I wish to watch my struggle.”
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