“Gets More Views”: Jorge Masvidal Says Ilia Topuria-Justin Gaethje Rematch Is Bigger Than Arman Tsarukyan Fight

The lightweight division has flipped after Arman Tsarukyan cemented his name in the title picture after a dominant first-round knockout win over Mauricio Ruffy last week at UFC 331. 

Ever since then, fans and critics have been wondering who between Tsarukyan and Topuria could fight for the 155-lbs gold strap next. Jorge Masvidal picked Topuria and has his reasons.

Jorge Masvidal Favors Rematch over Arman Tsarukyan Fight

Jorge Masvidal, a longtime American Top Team member, has trained alongside Arman Tsarukyan. In talks with Henry Cejudo, Masvidal praised Tsarukyan’s work ethic and character. He also acknowledged the Armenian star’s growing global popularity. 

However, Masvidal feels Topuria has outgrown Tsarukyan in terms of number after the White House title fight with Justin Gaethje in June. 

“I think Arman is as big as he’s ever been right now, but is he bigger than Ilia and is he bigger than Ilia after the Gaethje fight at the White House? I think Ilia still gets more views,” Masvidal said. 

Topuria is a logical pick given that his fight with Gaethje generated 34 million global views across multiple international broadcast and streaming partners. UFC Freedom 250 is one of the most-watched broadcasts in promotion history.

Topuria has 19.3 million followers on Instagram, while Tsarukyan has 6.7 million. Although Masvidal is making a point, it is important to note that UFC Freedom 250 numbers are not solely due to Topuria. The event featured many high-profile fights that contributed to the overall numbers. 

Also, the UFC lightweight champion has a say in who his next challenger will be, and he has chosen Arman Tsarukyan. 

Justin Gaethje Says Arman Tsarukyan Is “Next in Line”

In a recent episode of the Flagrant podcast, Gaethje revealed that he is unsure about his return timeline. However, the champion confirmed that he will fight Arman Tsarukyan, not Ilia Topuria, for his first title defense. 

Topuria lost to Gaethje after his corner stopped the fight in the fourth round. With this loss, the Spaniard's undefeated streak snapped, and he looked battered. 

Topuria’s undefeated run is hard to ignore. However, Tsarukyan is now riding a six-fight win streak and waiting for his chance. With the win over Ruffy, he has made his position clear in the division. Thus, a fight against the champion could be next for him. However, the matchup and timeline are yet to be officially announced.