UFC fan favorite Michael Chandler believes Ilia Topuria has every right to avoid fighting Arman Tsarukyan.
UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria added himself to the promotion’s history books when he won a second world title last month at UFC 317. Topuria knocked out Charles Oliveira in brutal fashion in the UFC 317 main event to cap off a remarkable rise to superstardom inside the Octagon.
After winning the title, Topuria is looking ahead to making his first defense against one of the top lightweight contenders. But Arman Tsarukyan, the division’s No. 1 contender, isn’t on Topuria’s radar.
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Michael Chandler sides with Ilia Topuria over Arman Tsarukyan’s ‘scared’ comments
After Topuria all but shut down a potential Tsarukyan fight for his first title defense, the top lightweight labeled the new titleholder ‘scared’ as he accused the pound-for-pound king of ducking a fight. Tsarukyan will likely have to win at least one more fight, according to UFC CEO Dana White, to warrant another title shot after his shocking UFC 311 pullout.
But one of the division’s top contenders believes there’s more to the story behind Topuria’s reluctance to fight Tsarukyan.
In a recent post to Threads, Michael Chandler explained why he believes Topuria’s refusal to fight Tsarukyan next is a calculated play.
“Definitely not scared…nobody wants that nothingburger of a fight, especially not the champ,” Chandler opined.
“Ilia realizes we are in the attention business…nobody pays attention to that other guy.”
Chandler and Tsarukyan have had their own feud in recent years, featuring fight ducking allegations. Tsarukyan was one of the most vocal critics on the UFC roster of Chandler’s insistence on waiting it out for a fight with Conor McGregor.
Tsarukyan hasn’t fought since defeating Oliveira by split decision at UFC 300 last year. The Armenian has won four consecutive fights since a controversial defeat to Mateusz Gamrot in June 2022.
As Topuria seems intent on facing an alternative to Tsarukyan for his first lightweight title defense, an opportunity to settle a long-standing beef is on the table.
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Ilia Topuria’s first title defense could come against longtime adversary
Just minutes after defeating Oliveira, Topuria faced off with Paddy Pimblett in the center of the Octagon as the two enemies promoted a potential clash. Pimblett climbed the lightweight rankings when he finished Chandler at UFC 314 earlier this year.
Topuria and Pimblett have been on each other’s nerves for years, stemming from their 2022 fighter hotel altercation. Tensions haven’t cooled off between Topuria and Pimblett in 2025, as the two nearly got into an all-out brawl in their heated UFC 317 faceoff.
Despite Topuria and Pimblett’s strong fight promotion, White and the matchmakers claimed it’s ‘not the fight’ to make following UFC 317. It’s uncertain what the UFC heads have in store for the UFC’s pound-for-pound king, but a potential clash with Pimblett seems inevitable.
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