Arman Tsarukyan talks Justin Gaethje's potential MMA retirement, why the UFC champ would choose Ilia Topuria rematch

Arman Tsarukyan has put forth his take on the uncertainty surrounding UFC lightweight champion Justin Gaethje's next challenger. The Armenian-Russian combatant is apparently keen to fight Gaethje for the belt, but he feels the American would rather face Ilia Topuria in a rematch. 

UFC star Arman Tsarukyan talks Justin Gaethje's potential MMA retirement

Arman Tsarukyan scored a spectacular submission victory against Dan Hooker late last year and returned to the Octagon several months later, taking on Mauricio Ruffy last Saturday. "The Batman" notched a thunderous first-round KO win over Ruffy in the co-headlining match of UFC 331 on September 19. 

In the meantime, rumors are rife that former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion Ilia Topuria could face UFC lightweight champ Justin Gaethje in an immediate rematch of their fight from June, with the rematch likely taking place in early 2027. 

During a post-UFC 331 appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, Tsarukyan suggested that Topuria would attempt but fail at leapfrogging him to secure a title shot against Gaethje. 

Tsarukyan stated, "They (Team Topuria) are gonna try, but it's not gonna happen." Also, when asked what he sees happening with Topuria, he indicated that the Georgian-Spaniard would likely face Paddy "The Baddy" Pimblett. He affirmed, "They're gonna fight with Paddy Pimblett." 

Moreover, Tsarukyan alluded to the speculation about the veteran Gaethje possibly retiring from MMA rather than defending his recently won UFC lightweight belt. He said, "Maybe Gaethje gonna say, 'I don't wanna fight anymore. I'm retired'... Either retirement, either he's gonna ask for a big check... I think they're gonna pay him good money, and he's gonna stay."

Arman Tsarukyan believes UFC champion Justin Gaethje would prefer fighting Ilia Topuria over him; he'd like to fight Gaethje

Elsewhere during his conversation with Ariel Helwani, Arman Tsarukyan implied that Justin Gaethje -- if allowed to choose by the UFC -- would go for the Ilia Topuria rematch instead of fighting him. 

Tsarukyan explained, "If they give him the opportunity to pick me or Ilia, he will pick Ilia because he already beat him. He knows he can beat him twice." 

On his part, Tsarukyan underlined that he'd surely agree to fight Gaethje for the title. He noted, "I'll be very happy to fight him (Justin Gaethje) because I know he has a couple more fights and he's going to retire." 

Furthermore, Tsarukyan emphasized that he'd love to defeat Gaethje and thereby add him to his winning streak. "The Batman" reaffirmed that the UFC, before and after his win over Mauricio Ruffy at UFC 331, had promised him that he's getting the next lightweight title shot. 

Watch Arman Tsarukyan address Justin Gaethje's possible MMA retirement, as well as the American's supposed preference for Ilia Topuria, below: