Khabib Nurmagomedov thinks Arman Tsarukyan is a bad matchup for UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria.
Chael Sonnen is confident that the UFC plans on booking Topuria (17-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) vs. Tsarukyan (23-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) next, but Tsarukyan thinks he’ll likely have to notch one more win. Topuria recently said he’d vacate his belt before defending it against Tsarukyan next.
Nurmagomedov sees Tsarukyan as Topuria’s biggest threat.
“I don’t see Topuria having a chance,” Nurmagomedov told Kamil Gadzhiyev (h/t Championship Rounds). “Arman fights too well at range against strikers. He keeps his distance well, works better with his kicks, and now Arman has improved a lot. He has footage that he can study and analyze. If they fought three years ago, maybe he wouldn’t have been as cautious. But now, you can clearly see what dangers Topuria brings. I believe right now, the best lightweight is (Tsarukyan).”
So what makes Nurmagomedov so confident that Tsarukyan beats Topuria?
“(It’s) due to his MMA style, not only wrestling,” Nurmagomedov said. “Arman can take people down. He has good elbows on the ground – very good elbows. He can grapple, submit, take the back. … I’d say it’s 80-20 percent in Arman’s favor – his wrestling, his pressure, his physicality. It all matters. He’s taller by almost 10 centimeters, if I’m not mistaken. He’s heavier, and on fight night, he’ll be the bigger man. And of course, wrestling plays a huge role – especially in fights like this.
“We all know the level of wrestling that (Max) Holloway and Charles Oliveira had. It’s practically nonexistent. They are strikers. They went forward and got caught. But a guy who grabs a leg, wrestles, grabs the body, wrestles – Topuria hasn’t faced that. He’s only fought strikers. (Alexander) Volkanovski doesn’t wrestle, the others don’t wrestle. Name at least one of his opponents who uses even 20 percent wrestling – Not 50, just 20 percent.”
Tsarukyan may have to win one more fight before getting his shot at Topuria, but Nurmagomedov says he’ll eventually be undeniable.
“It’s an interesting fight,” Nurmagomedov said. “I know the UFC is cautious. They don’t want to throw him to Topuria too quickly. Right now, Topuria is a bigger star than Arman. But if Arman gets a big win, where can they hide him? They won’t be able to.”
