Tsarukyan says UFC will pick Topuria for lightweight title fight

Top-ranked UFC lightweight Arman Tsarukyan believes Ilia Topuria will be next in line to face Islam Makhachev for the 155-pound title, even though the Armenian is currently number one in the rankings.

Tsarukyan was set to fight Makhachev for the title earlier this year but was forced to pull out due to a back injury just one day before the event.

Despite being the No.1 contender in the lightweight division and No.15 on the UFC men’s pound for pound rankings, he is yet to be rebooked.

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Speaking in an interview this week, the 28-year-old believes it will be newcomer Ilia Topuria – who vacated his featherweight title to move up to lightweight – that gets a shot at the title next.

“I think [Topuria] got to fight for the belt for sure,” he said.

“He left 145 because they said OK we’re going to give you title fight.”

Tsarukyan believes that the only scenario where he gets a shot at the title is if Makhachev opts to move up to the welterweight division and vacate his belt.

This would depend on the outcome of Belal Muhammad and Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 315.

Muhammad is currently a heavy favourite across UFC betting sites to defend his title. However, if he loses – which BetOnline has at odds of $3 – Tsarukyan expect that Makhachev would go up a division to fight Della Maddalena for the title.

“If Islam is going to move to 170, yeah they’ve got to give me the interim title with somebody,” he said.

“Right now because it’s a dangerous fight and I don’t have a title.

“Everybody wants to fight for the title and when the title fight is booked then I’m going to get the fight.”

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