According to the text provided, Ilia Topuria recently achieved a significant milestone by hypothetically securing a title across two divisions with a victory over former champion Charles Oliveira at UFC 317. This win marked his third consecutive triumph against a former titleholder. In the immediate aftermath, Topuria reportedly mentioned potential challengers, including Arman Tsarukyan, but ultimately highlighted his long-standing rivalry with Paddy Pimblett. The tension between Topuria and Pimblett escalated during an octagon faceoff, necessitating intervention from security following a shove. Given the apparent animosity, Topuria`s initial defense of his newly acquired lightweight belt seems likely to be against Pimblett. However, UFC veteran Matt Brown expressed a strong preference against this matchup.
Discussing the potential opponents on a recent episode of The Fighter vs. The Writer, Brown asserted, “It`s probably going to be Paddy but it should goddamn well be Arman. We know that right?” Brown acknowledged Topuria`s impressive accomplishments but suggested that calling out Pimblett indicated a desire for that specific fight next, while stopping short of labeling it “ducking” Tsarukyan. Brown articulated his personal wish to see Topuria face Arman, arguing that a victory over Tsarukyan, particularly a dominant one, would represent a greater achievement for Topuria`s career legacy than the hypothetical win over Oliveira mentioned in the source text.
Brown elaborated on his view, stating, “I guess when you look at it that way in terms of the biggest fights but Paddy has not earned that. He just does not deserve to be there. Even other guys other than [Justin] Gaethje and Arman that deserve to be there.”
Based on the provided information, Arman Tsarukyan is widely regarded as the most deserving contender in the lightweight division. However, he reportedly faced disapproval from the UFC following his withdrawal from a scheduled January bout against then-champion Islam Makhachev due to a back injury. UFC CEO Dana White was said to have stated after this incident that Tsarukyan would need another win to earn a title shot, but this was prior to the scenario described where Makhachev transitioned divisions and Topuria claimed the championship.
While conceding that Paddy Pimblett`s significant star power would undoubtedly generate more viewership, Brown maintained that a win against Pimblett would contribute far less to Topuria`s long-term standing compared to defeating Tsarukyan.
Brown went as far as to suggest that if Topuria successfully navigates a fight against Tsarukyan, building upon his hypothetical recent victories over Oliveira, Alexander Volkanovski, and Max Holloway as described in the text, he would immediately warrant consideration among the sport`s all-time greats.
“Ilia to me is on the verge of we start comparing him to like Jon Jones,” Brown remarked. He proposed that conquering Arman, or potentially facing Islam Makhachev should circumstances allow, or even Jack Della Maddalena, would lead to discussions of Topuria achieving “Jon Jones level greatness.” In contrast, he felt beating Pimblett, while acknowledging Pimblett`s toughness, would likely only serve as a stepping stone before Topuria eventually faced more challenging contenders anyway. Brown prefers to see him take on the toughest tests immediately.
“The guy`s right on the verge,” Brown emphasized, reflecting on the career of Jon Jones. While recognizing Jones`s impressive undefeated streaks, Brown questioned whether those runs were truly comparable to the hypothetical three-fight stretch described for Ilia in the source material, suggesting Ilia`s recent run, as presented, might be more impressive in hindsight.
Brown also noted that Jon Jones, even at his peak, eventually faced opponents who might not have fully earned their title shots, potentially due to a less competitive light heavyweight division at times. He contrasted this with the lightweight division, which is historically one of MMA`s deepest and most challenging. Combined with Topuria`s hypothetical wins over elite featherweights mentioned in the text, Brown believes Ilia`s resume, as described, is starting to look like something even Jones`s couldn`t fully match.
“I want to see the run keep going,” Brown stated, identifying his primary critique of Jon Jones as a perceived decrease in the level of competition he faced later in his career. He expressed a desire to see Ilia continuously challenge the most formidable opponents to truly assess his potential.
“If he can beat Arman next, that`s a pretty strong seal right there,” Brown affirmed. He views Tsarukyan as the opponent who offers the most significant boost to Ilia`s legacy in the current landscape, outside of a potential move up in weight or a hypothetical bout with Islam Makhachev depending on future events.
Acknowledging the practical realities of the sport, Brown understood the business rationale behind choosing Pimblett over Tsarukyan, recognizing that the Pimblett fight would likely be more financially rewarding with potentially less risk. Nevertheless, he firmly maintained his position that Tsarukyan is the necessary opponent for Topuria to solidify the legacy required to be considered among the greatest ever.
Concluding his remarks, Brown stated, “It sounds like it`s probably going to be set with [Paddy Pimblett] and it`s going to be a gigantic fight,” but reiterated his strong preference: “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.”
