Ilia Topuria, after defeating Charles Oliveira at UFC 317, is expected to defend his lightweight title against Paddy Pimblett, though UFC legend Matt Brown argues that Arman Tsarukyan is the more deserving contender for enhancing Topuria’s legacy.
Ilia Topuria’s victory over Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 marked his third win against a former champion. This achievement places him among the few fighters to secure titles in two divisions.
Right after the fight, Topuria hinted at potential challengers, including Arman Tsarukyan. However, his long-standing rivalry with Paddy Pimblett took center stage, culminating in an in-octagon faceoff that required security intervention.
UFC legend Matt Brown weighed in, expressing hope that Topuria’s first title defense won’t be against Pimblett. "It’s probably going to be Paddy but it should goddamn well be Arman," Brown said on The Fighter vs. The Writer podcast.
Brown believes a fight against Tsarukyan would be more significant for Topuria’s legacy. He argues that Tsarukyan, despite his recent setback with the UFC, is the most deserving contender.
Pimblett, while a crowd-puller, doesn’t offer the same challenge or prestige as Tsarukyan. Brown suggests that a victory over Tsarukyan would elevate Topuria’s status to that of the all-time greats.
Comparing Topuria to Jon Jones, Brown notes that Jones eventually faced less challenging opponents due to a shallower talent pool. In contrast, the lightweight division remains fiercely competitive.
Brown hopes to see Topuria continue his impressive run, facing the toughest opponents available. He argues that beating Tsarukyan would solidify Topuria’s claim to greatness.
Despite the financial allure of a Pimblett fight, Brown insists that Tsarukyan is the opponent that truly matters for Topuria’s legacy. "I’m going to argue to the end it should be Arman," Brown said.
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