Outside Source
Topuria will fight Charles Oliveira for the vacant lightweight title in the main event at UFC 317 this weekend in Las Vegas. Tsarukyan will be the backup fighter for the UFC 317 headliner in case someone has to pull out due to unforeseen circumstances.
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But Topuria doesn’t think it is a wise choice for Tsarukyan to be the backup fighter. “El Matador” believes Tsarukyan will struggle if he has to fight, regardless of whether the opponent is him or Oliveira.
“That’s a bad decision for him,” Topuria told New York Post Sports. “I don’t know why he accepted, because you can’t come here as a backup fighter. I don’t know how long did he train for this fight, but if something happens to anyone, even to me, I think that there’s no possibility that something could happen with me, but who knows? No none knows what’s gonna happen tomorrow. Even with Charles, he would struggle a lot. And with me, it is like, he has no chances. No chances. Like, first round, first minutes of the fight. What he’s going to do? Go for the takedowns. Bro, come on.”
Tsarukyan Says He’s ‘Worst Possible Matchup’ for Topuria
Tsarukyan wasted no time in responding, urging Topuria to pray that nothing happens to Oliveira. “Ahalkalakets” claims he is the worst matchup for Topuria.
“You better pray nothing happens to Charles, because I’m the worst possible matchup for you in this division,” Tsarukyan wrote on social media. “There’s a reason you’re fighting the guy I already beat, and not me, for that belt.”
You better pray nothing happens to Charles, because I’m the worst possible matchup for you in this division. There’s a reason you’re fighting the guy I already beat, and not me, for that belt. https://t.co/qXS0lImDya
— Arman Tsarukyan UFC (@ArmanUfc) June 24, 2025
Tsarukyan was originally scheduled to challenge Islam Makhachev for the lightweight title at UFC 311 this past January. However, he pulled out a day before the fight due to a back injury. Tsarukyan was replaced by Renato Carneiro, who suffered a submission loss against Makhachev. Dana White expressed his disappointment with Tsarukyan pulling out, confirming that the No. 1 contender wouldn’t get the next title shot. Tsarukyan is riding a four-fight winning streak topped off by a split-decision win over Oliveira.
This article first appeared at Recent News on Sherdog.com
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