After Ilia Topuria defeated Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 to become the new lightweight champion in Las Vegas, Paddy Pimblett entered the octagon for a face-off. MMA legend Demetrious Johnson expressed his disapproval of this potential pairing.
Despite UFC CEO Dana White stating the face-off was not planned and did not confirm Pimblett as the next challenger, Johnson feels that considering Pimblett for the title shot over the clear No. 1 contender, Arman Tsarukyan, undermines the sport`s meritocracy.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Johnson emphatically stated, “It needs to be him, Arman Tsarukyan.” He added, “This is why I say [UFC] it’s a reality TV show. It’s like, obviously Arman Tsarukyan is the number one contender. He’s ranked number one.”
Tsarukyan`s most recent fight in April 2024 saw him defeat Oliveira via split decision. However, he was forced to withdraw from a scheduled title bout against Islam Makhachev in January due to health issues just hours before the weigh-ins. He served as the backup fighter for UFC 317 and successfully made weight, but White remained hesitant to confirm him as the next in line.
Johnson suggested the promotion might bypass the rankings to book Pimblett vs. Topuria, believing it would generate more sales. He reiterated his firm belief: “I think the rightful person who should be getting the next title shot at lightweight is Arman Tsarukyan.”
Johnson also shared that he had predicted Topuria would defeat Oliveira based on their fighting styles. He was impressed by Topuria`s performance, noting how the former featherweight champion secured his second belt (lightweight) with a third consecutive knockout victory over a notable opponent, having previously stopped Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway.
While Topuria`s career appears promising, Johnson doesn`t believe it will be as lengthy as those of his recent high-profile opponents.
According to Johnson, “Ilia is going to be a guy that fights who fights three or four more times and retires.”
