Russian fighter Eduard Vartanyan shared his thoughts in an exclusive interview with Telecomasia.net regarding the potential match-up between Ilia Topuria and Arman Tsarukyan for the UFC lightweight championship title.
Eduard Vartanyan exclusively for Telecom Asia Sport
I believe Arman will win through his wrestling. He doesn’t need to trade blows with Topuria. Tsarukyan can easily take him down and strip him of his advantages. The fight could go the full distance, but it’s possible that Arman will finish him with a submission in the third or fourth round. Many say Ilia is good in wrestling, but I wouldn't agree. We saw his fight with Bryce Mitchell, who managed to take him down despite being hunched over. Although Bryce and Arman are fighters of different levels, Tsarukyan is way better than him in grappling and stamina.
It's worth noting that Ilia Topuria knocked out Charles Oliveira on June 28 at UFC 317 in Las Vegas for the vacant lightweight title. He currently boasts a record of 17 wins and no losses.
Arman Tsarukyan is ranked second in the lightweight division and is on a four-fight winning streak. He holds a record of 22 wins and three losses. His last fight was on April 14, 2024, at UFC 300 in Las Vegas, where he won a split decision against Charles Oliveira.
