Arman Tsarukyan Reveals Surprising Name who Can Defeat Ilia Topuria

Arman Tsarukyan is currently preparing for his fight against Mauricio Ruffy. While he would want to win the bout in order to climb up the ladder, the Armenian fighter is also keeping a close eye on the proceedings within his division. At the moment, the biggest question is who Ilia Topuria will face upon his return. Speaking on the matter, ‘Ahalkalakets’ revealed a surprising name. 

According to Tsarukyan, Usman Nurmagomedov has the potential to get the better of Topuria. While he did admit that the Dagestani fighter did not have an elite striking ability like ‘El Matador,’ the UFC lightweight star felt that Nurmagomedov’s speed would pose a significant problem for Topuria. 

Tsarukyan told Ushatayka, “For example, Usman’s worse at striking than Ilia, but in the overall stand-up game, Usman might be better. And in terms of wrestling, Usman’s even better. I think this is a very competitive fight, and I think Usman can win it because of his wrestling and his ability to mix things up.”

Such a comment surely puts more intrigue on the number of contenders for Topuria. Already, a possible rematch with Justin Gaethje has been teased. Meanwhile, despite Tsarukyan deeming Nurmagomedov a good fit for Topuria, his inclusion in the UFC is still in jeopardy. 

Will Usman Nurmagomedov Join UFC? 

Following his last fight in the PFL, Usman Nurmagomedov became a free agent. This immediately gave way to speculation about the Dagestani champion joining Dana White’s promotion, but up to now, things are looking quite uncertain. Nurmagomedov has not yet finalized his decision to join the UFC, and  according to Islam Makhachev, he has a 90% chance of entering Dana White’s league of elites. 

Makhachev told Match TV, “It's the perfect move for him, he needs to prove he's the best in the world, he could face a top 10 rival and soon earn a title shot. He grew up alongside Khabib and me, has trained with the best from the start of his career and has extensive experience working with champions, now is the best time for him to join the UFC."

Despite all the push, the final decision is yet to come.