MMA manager cites alleged Arman Tsarukyan connection in Ilia Topuria's loaded gloves claim about Justin Gaethje
Ilia Topuria recently accused Justin Gaethje of using loaded gloves. An MMA manager claims Topuria's comments have an Arman Tsarukyan connection.
Arman Tsarukyan made his long-awaited return to the Octagon, for the first time since last year, and knocked out Mauricio Ruffy in the co-headlining match of UFC 331 on September 19.
Incidentally, former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion Ilia Topuria made waves in the MMA community around the same time. The Georgian-Spaniard mixed martial arts superstar -- who's largely been away from the public eye since his TKO loss to Justin Gaethje in June -- accused Gaethje of using loaded gloves to beat him.
Gaethje's manager Ali Abdelaziz has weighed in by suggesting that Topuria made the glove accusations to dent the hype surrounding the Tsarukyan vs. Ruffy fight. Coincidentally, Tsarukyan and Topuria happen to be archrivals who've often traded barbs in the past.
Ali Abdelaziz feels Ilia Topuria made the gloves allegations against Justin Gaethje to take hype away from Arman Tsarukyan's return against Mauricio Ruffy
Arman Tsarukyan has competed in eight freestyle wrestling matches, while venturing into miscellaneous entrepreneurial challenges as well, during his MMA hiatus dating back to last November. He's extensively created content as a streamer and furthered his profile as a prominent social media influencer, alongside the likes of Nina Drama and other internet personalities.
As such, when Tsarukyan ended his mixed martial arts hiatus by knocking out Mauricio Ruffy in round one of their lightweight showdown at UFC 331 last Saturday, fight fans were abuzz about his comeback.
On that note, Ali Abdelaziz believes that Ilia Topuria's loaded gloves accusation against Justin Gaethje coinciding with Tsarukyan's return are connected. Speaking to Denis Shkuratov on Submission Radio, Abdelaziz stated:
"If this is what he want to say, he have rocks in his gloves; that's a compliment to Justin Gaethje. How hard he punch. I'm not going to be insulted by that. Because the Las Vegas commission was there, DC commission was there, Andy Foster (from) California was there. You have three commissioners watching the gloves."
He added, "But, you know, he (Ilia Topuria) said that (during) Arman fight week -- to kind of, honestly, take away from Arman and Ruffy hype. This is what Conor (McGregor) used to do, right? And he (Ilia Topuria) did a good job. He got himself in the media."
Ali Abdelaziz clarifies he has no ill will toward Arman Tsarukyan and Ilia Topuria
The gravitas of Ilia Topuria's allegation against Justin Gaethje notwithstanding, Ali Abdelaziz indicated that he holds no grudges against him. The MMA manager even implied that he bears no ill will toward Arman Tsarukyan either.
The Dominance MMA founder said, "I have zero beef with Arman Tsarukyan... I have zero beef with Ilia Topuria. Me and Justin have no beef with him."
Presently, the consensus is that Topuria is en route to a comeback, possibly in a rematch against UFC lightweight titleholder Justin Gaethje or archrival Paddy "The Baddy" Pimblett come 2027.
As for Arman Tsarukyan, a number of fans and experts have echoed his calls for a title shot against Gaethje. "The Batman" is also booked to compete in his ninth Real American Freestyle (RAF) wrestling match this year. Tsarukyan will take on Dillon Danis for the inaugural RAF middleweight crossover championship at RAF 14 on October 23.
Watch Ali Abdelaziz address the supposed Arman Tsarukyan link with Ilia Topuria's gloves accusation against Justin Gaethje below (*comments at the 9:36-minute mark of the video):
