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Arman Tsarukyan picks surprising name for Ilia Topuria’s next opponent

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Arman Tsarukyan picks surprising name for Ilia Topuria’s next opponent

Arman Tsarukyan believes Ilia Topuria's return fight will be against a well-known veteran in the lightweight division, but maybe one anyone is expecting.

In an interview on the UFC on Paramount+ YouTube channel, Tsarukyan was asked where Topuria fights in the 155-pound title picture after losing his championship and suffering his first defeat to Justin Gaethje in a shocking upset at UFC White House this past June. Topuria suffered facial injuries in the hard-fought contest and his recovery timetable is unclear, but Tsarukyan thinks Michael Chandler is a logical tune-up for Topuria before throwing Topuria back into the thick of contender race.

“He's still recovering and probably next for him a fight with Michael Chandler and then come back and fight for the title,†Tsarukyan said, adding, “Who else? After this fight, he needs someone easy, an easy fight, and then after that fight come and fight again.â€

Prior to his loss to Gaethje, Topuria was on one of the best runs in MMA history. He compiled a 17-0 record, capped by consecutive championship fight knockouts over Charles Oliveira, Max Holloway, and Alexander Volkanovski, the latter two at featherweight. However, the lightweight division continues to move on with Topuria on the shelf, with Tsarukyan set to take on Mauricio Ruffy in a pivotal contender contest in the five-round co-main event at UFC 331 on Sept. 19 in Los Angeles.

“Already No. 1 contender,†Tsarukyan said when asked if the stakes are high for him on Sept. 19.

Tsarukyan and Topuria have been at odds for years now, though a bout is yet to materialize despite the two now residing in the same weight class. A grudge match for the title would draw plenty of interest, and could be one option for Tsarukyan if he completes his mission of becoming the champion.

“There's a lot of top guys,†Tsarukyan said. “Me, Oliveira still. Paddy Pimblett. Topuria. Max Holloway is tough as well. But when I beat Ruffy, I'm going to fight for the title and then I can pick who I want to fight.â€

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MMA

10 UFC wins, zero finishes: Movsar Evloev defends his fighting style

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10 UFC wins, zero finishes: Movsar Evloev defends his fighting style
Movsar
Evloev rejects the notion that fans only want bloody
fights.

Evloev is scheduled to challenge Alexander
Volkanovski for the
Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight title at
UFC 333 on Oct. 24 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. The Russian
challenger has won all 10 of his UFC bouts by decision but believes
fans appreciate his fighting style.

Movsar Evloev argues wrestling can entertain UFC fans ahead of
Volkanovski title fight

The recent departures of Michael
Page and Farid
Basharat have fueled debate about whether winning is enough to
secure a new UFC contract. Neither fighter was re-signed despite a
winning streak, though a lack of finishes has not been established
as the reason for either departure.

Evloev believes finishes are not the only measure of a fighter's
value. He says fans also appreciate tactics, skill and
wrestling.

“I have zero finishes in UFC, but I'm still in the UFC and I'm
fighting for the title,†Evloev told MMA Fighting. “That means only
finishes are not important. To show a good fight is also important.
If you have no finish, you can still show a good fight, an exciting
fight; you can show the beauty of wrestling. There are not just
fans of MMA who just wait for blood. There are so many good fans
who know MMA, and they understand, and maybe because of them I'm
still in the UFC.â€

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MMA

Morning Report | Chris Weidman, Dustin Poirier recall opponents’ dramatic change from weigh-in to fight night: ‘Who the f*ck is this guy?’

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Morning Report | Chris Weidman, Dustin Poirier recall opponents’ dramatic change from weigh-in to fight night: ‘Who the f*ck is this guy?’

What’s up best community in sports? Hope you’re having a great start to the week.

Tomorrow (later than usual), we’re going LIVE with a special Between the Links episode. I’ll be in Las Vegas, and joining me will be the great José Youngs to answer your questions about UFC 333, the two title fights, RAF 14, and much more.

Here’s your chance to get your questions in, early and often. Show will go live around 6-6:30-ish p.m. ET, depending on my fun day of travel. Fire away, and we’ll see you tomorrow.

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MMA

Alexander Volkanovski predicts wild finish of 20-0 Movsar Evloev

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Alexander Volkanovski predicts 'wild' finish of 20-0 Movsar Evloev
Alexander
Volkanovski is brimming with confidence ahead of his next title
defense.

Volkanovski (28-4) is scheduled to defend his
Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight title against
Movsar
Evloev (20-0) at
UFC 333 on Oct. 24 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. The Australian
champion believes he can deliver a career-best performance against
the undefeated Russian.

Alexander Volkanovski doubts Movsar Evloev can outgrapple him
for 25 minutes at UFC 333

Evloev has won all 10 of his UFC bouts by decision, but Volkanovski
doubts the challenger can outgrapple him for five rounds. “The
Great†believes Evloev would need to catch him with a decisive
strike to win.

“Trying to outgrapple me for 25 minutes, I can't see it,â€
Volkanovski told MMA Junkie. “I believe that the only chance that
any of these guys have is for them to catch me… If he thinks he can
beat me by decision or he thinks he can outgrapple me, I'm sure
he's gonna try, we'll see. I'm just very confident in my skills and
the fighter I still am… I think I can do it in pretty wild fashion.
I believe I can get a finish. I believe I can do it inside five… A
lot of people are going to go say after this fight, ‘Is that the
best Volk we’ve ever seen?'â€

Volkanovski first won the title against Max
Holloway in 2019 and defended it five times before losing to
Ilia
Topuria in 2024. He reclaimed the vacant championship against
Diego
Lopes last year after Topuria moved up to lightweight, then
defended it in their rematch in January.

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