Ilia
Topuria continues to downplay Arman
Tsarukyan as a potential opponent.
Topuria (17-0) is scheduled to defend his lightweight title against
interim champion Justin
Gaethje (27-5) in the main event at
UFC White House on June 14. Meanwhile, the widely considered
rightful title contender Tsarukyan has been left out of the title
mix.
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However, Topuria has always shrugged off Tsarukyan as a potential
threat. “El Matador” recently went off on Tsarukyan’s antics
outside the Octagon. Tsarukyan is often seen flying in private jets
and having expensive feasts. However, Topuria believes
“Ahalkalakets” is projecting a lavish life off of his father’s
money. Topuria believes Tsarukyan is yet to mature as a person.
Childish Mentality
“I’m really impressed with how dumb he is,” Topuria said on
„The Ariel Helwani Show.” “He’s a retard. He
looks like a kid. His mentality, he is dumb as f—k. Everything that
I saw about him on the internet is embarrassing, a little bit… The
thing that I don’t like is they play rich and they show all that
money. And it’s like, bro, you’re not even rich. You’re that poor
that the only thing that you have is money. And you’re spending
your father’s money, not even yours. He’s a f—-ing kid.”
Tsarukyan (23-3) was originally scheduled to challenge Islam
Makhachev for the lightweight title last year. However,
Tsarukyan pulled out a day before the fight due to an injury, which
has cost him heavily. The
UFC made sure Tsarukyan was sidelined when Makhachev moved up
to welterweight. Meanwhile, Topuria went on to win the vacant title
against Charles
Oliveira. While Tsarukyan started calling for a title shot
against Topuria, the undefeated Georgian-Spaniard clearly expressed
his preference for fighting Paddy
Pimblett instead. Many believed Tsarukyan would have secured a
title shot when he finished Dan Hooker
this past November. However, when Topuria took a short hiatus,
Pimblett and Gaethje got a shot at the interim title. Tsarukyan has
been keeping himself busy in wrestling competitions as he continues
getting snubbed for a UFC title shot.