Khabib Nurmagomedov Gives His Unfiltered Take On Ilia Topuria vs Arman Tsarukyan Matchup
Khabib Nurmagomedov retired from MMA in 2020 with a perfect 29-0 record. The Dagestani legend walked away as the undisputed lightweight champion after submitting Justin Gaethje. Since retirement, he’s transitioned into coaching and managing fighters, including 2 division champion Islam Makhachev full-time with tremendous success.
Fans and analysts pay close attention whenever he breaks down potential fights or offers predictions. Recently, Nurmagomedov shared his thoughts on a potential matchup between current lightweight champion Ilia Topuria and top contender Arman Tsarukyan. The legendary fighter didn’t mince words about who he believes would win that fight. His assessment was clear, direct, and based on stylistic advantages that favor Tsarukyan significantly.
Khabib Nurmagomedov Believes Arman Tsarukyan Dominates Topuria
Khabib Nurmagomedov offered a brutally honest assessment of how a fight between Topuria and Tsarukyan would play out. He placed the odds at 80-20 in favor of the Armenian contender during a recent interview. That’s an overwhelming advantage that suggests ‘The Eagle’ sees this as a terrible stylistic matchup for Topuria. The retired champion explained his reasoning by pointing to wrestling as the deciding factor.
“I believe right now, the best lightweight is Tsarukyan… I’d say it’s 80%-20% in Arman’s favor. We all know the level of wrestling that Holloway and Oliveira had. It’s practically nonexistent… But a guy who wrestles, Topuria hasn’t faced that. He’s only fought strikers. I know the UFC is cautious.”
Khabib’s logic makes complete sense when you examine Topuria’s recent opponents at lightweight. The Georgian-Spanish star knocked out Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 in June 2025 to capture the undisputed title. Before that, he defeated Max Holloway in a brutal war at UFC 318. Both Oliveira and Holloway are elite strikers with phenomenal offensive skills standing up. But neither possesses the wrestling credentials that Tsarukyan brings to the table every single fight.
Tsarukyan built his entire reputation on a grappling-heavy style that troubles elite lightweights consistently. The 28 year old contender has won five straight fights using superior wrestling and control. He takes opponents down, maintains top position, and grinds them out over three rounds. That approach has proven incredibly effective against strikers who lack defensive wrestling fundamentals. Khabib recognizes this pattern and believes Topuria falls into that same category of fighters.
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Arman Tsarukyan’s Title Shot Remains Unclear
Arman Tsarukyan sits in an incredibly frustrating position despite his five-fight winning streak at lightweight. He’s widely viewed as the number one contender but hasn’t received a title shot yet. The division remains in flux heading into the June 14th UFC White House card. That event features Topuria defending against interim champion Justin Gaethje in a unification bout.
Gaethje captured the interim belt by defeating Paddy Pimblett at UFC 324 in January. That victory earned him the opportunity to unify titles with Topuria. Meanwhile, Tsarukyan watches from the sidelines despite being more deserving based on recent performances.
Khabib’s public endorsement of Tsarukyan as the best lightweight carries significant weight in these discussions. The legendary fighter rarely makes bold predictions without solid reasoning behind them. When Khabib says someone has an 80-20 advantage, people should listen carefully.
For now, fans wait to see if this matchup ever materializes inside the octagon. Khabib Nurmagomedov clearly believes it should happen sooner rather than later. Whether the UFC books the fight depends on how the title picture shakes out after June 14th. Tsarukyan deserves his shot, and Khabib’s prediction makes this potential fight even more intriguing for hardcore MMA fans.
(Image Credit: Platinumlist)
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