Ilia Topuria recently secured double-champion status at UFC 317 by defeating Charles Oliveira via knockout, marking his third consecutive win against a former titleholder.
Immediately after his victory, Topuria mentioned several potential contenders, including Arman Tsarukyan, but quickly shifted focus to his long-standing rivalry with Paddy Pimblett. A subsequent faceoff inside the octagon between Topuria and Pimblett escalated into a shove, prompting security intervention. Given the clear animosity, Topuria`s initial defense of his lightweight title seems highly likely to be against Pimblett. However, UFC veteran Matt Brown strongly hopes this isn`t the case.
Speaking on a recent podcast episode, Brown stated, “It`s probably going to be Paddy but it should goddamn well be Arman.” He believes that of all Topuria`s impressive accomplishments to date, calling out Pimblett indicates a preference for that fight over Tsarukyan next. Brown personally wishes to see Topuria face Tsarukyan, arguing that defeating Tsarukyan, especially convincingly, would be a more significant achievement than beating Oliveira. He feels Pimblett has not earned a title opportunity compared to other deserving contenders like Justin Gaethje and Tsarukyan.
Based purely on recent performances in the lightweight division, Tsarukyan is widely considered the most deserving challenger. However, he previously drew the UFC`s displeasure after withdrawing from a scheduled fight against then-champion Islam Makhachev in January due to a back injury. Following that incident, UFC CEO Dana White publicly stated that Tsarukyan would need another win before earning a title shot. This was, however, before Makhachev potentially moved divisions and Topuria was crowned champion.
Regarding Pimblett, Brown concedes that the Liverpool native undoubtedly generates significant public interest and viewership due to his star power. Yet, a victory over Pimblett would not contribute as much to Topuria`s legacy compared to defeating Tsarukyan.
In fact, Brown is of the opinion that if Topuria can dispatch Tsarukyan in a similar fashion to his recent dominant wins over Oliveira, Alexander Volkanovski, and Max Holloway, he would instantly warrant consideration among the all-time greats of the sport.
“Ilia to me is on the verge of we start comparing him to like Jon Jones,” Brown remarked. He suggested that wins over elite opponents like Tsarukyan, a returning Islam Makhachev (if applicable), or even moving up to face someone like Jack Della Maddalena, could place Topuria in discussions about “Jon Jones level greatness.” Brown reflected on Jon Jones` career, comparing past three-fight runs and positing that Topuria`s current streak might be equally, if not more, impressive in retrospect.
Brown notes that even a fighter as dominant as Jon Jones eventually faced opponents who perhaps weren`t at the absolute highest echelon of competition, possibly due to a shallower talent pool in the light heavyweight division where Jones spent most of his career.
This stands in contrast to the lightweight division, which has historically been one of the deepest and most competitive weight classes in MMA. Coupled with Topuria`s victories over two of the greatest featherweights ever in his title contests at 145 pounds, Brown believes Topuria is rapidly compiling a resume that could potentially surpass even Jones`.
“I want to see the run keep going,” Brown emphasized, stating this was his biggest criticism of Jones, who he felt eventually saw a decline in his level of competition. Brown wants to see Ilia consistently challenge the most dangerous fighters to prove his mettle.
He reiterated that defeating Arman Tsarukyan next would be a profoundly strong statement about Topuria`s capabilities. Outside of a potential matchup with Islam Makhachev (which seems uncertain), Brown considers Tsarukyan the opponent whose defeat would contribute the most to Topuria`s historical standing and claim to greatness.
Of course, Brown fully understands the business aspect: choosing Pimblett over Tsarukyan is likely more lucrative and potentially less risky from a commercial standpoint.
Despite this, Brown maintains his argument that Topuria should prioritize facing Tsarukyan next, viewing it as the fight most crucial for building a legacy that could ultimately position him as the greatest fighter of all time.
“It sounds like it`s probably going to be set with Paddy Pimblett, and it`s going to be a gigantic fight,” Brown concluded. “I`m going to argue to the end it should be Arman. I want to see that fight. I think if Ilia goes out and beats Arman, it certainly adds to the argument that he is the greatest ever.”
