Arman Tsarukyan believes Paddy Pimblett is not the ideal opponent for Ilia Topuria following Topuria's loss to Justin Gaethje.
What happened?
Ilia Topuria suffered a significant defeat to Justin Gaethje in the UFC Freedom 250 headliner, with doctors stopping the fight at the end of Round 4 due to Topuria's eye injuries.
Topuria's record now stands at 17-1 MMA, 9-1 UFC, as of the July 2024 fight.
Why it matters for Arman Tsarukyan
Arman Tsarukyan, with a record of 23-3 MMA, 10-2 UFC, shared his thoughts on "The Ariel Helwani Show", stating that Pimblett's strong chin would make for a tough five-round fight.
Tsarukyan suggested Topuria should face Michael Chandler instead, to regain confidence with a potential knockout win.
What comes next?
Paddy Pimblett is set to face Benoit Saint Denis in the UFC 329 co-headliner on July 11 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
If Pimblett wins, he may finally settle his beef with Topuria, but Tsarukyan advises against this matchup for Topuria.
And Tsarukyan praised Topuria for not making excuses after his loss, but also expressed a desire to see Topuria act more humble.
Topuria had thrown a victory party before the fight, which Tsarukyan believes may have contributed to his overconfidence.
So Tsarukyan thinks this loss will teach Topuria valuable lessons about respecting his opponents and staying focused on training.
Tsarukyan's own experience in the UFC has likely influenced his opinion on Topuria's situation.
But for now, Topuria's next move remains uncertain, with various potential matchups on the table.
Tsarukyan's comments have sparked interest in the UFC community, with fans speculating about Topuria's future fights.