The UFC`s decision to select Charles Oliveira to face Ilia Topuria this summer for a title bout has drawn commentary from the MMA community.
This comes after recent significant announcements from UFC CEO Dana White, particularly concerning the lightweight division. Islam Makhachev is reportedly vacating his title.
As Makhachev prepares for a potential second title at welterweight against newly crowned champion Jack Della Maddalena, a new champion must be crowned at 155 pounds.
Battling for the vacant lightweight belt will be Oliveira and Topuria. However, one former MMA champion believes a different pairing would have been more suitable for the UFC 317 main event.
Josh Thomson says Arman Tsarukyan vs Ilia Topuria was the right fight, not Charles Oliveira
Speaking on the latest episode of their Weighing In podcast with former referee John McCarthy, ex-UFC contender and Strikeforce titleholder Josh Thomson offered his assessment of the key developments in his former division.
Interestingly, ‘The Punk’ does not view Oliveira as the most deserving contender for the next lightweight title fight. Instead, he pointed to Arman Tsarukyan as the more logical choice.
“This is what I want to know — how did you end up with Charles and not Arman Tsarukyan?! He’s the number one contender,” Thomson stated.
When McCarthy suggested that Tsarukyan’s last-minute withdrawal from UFC 311 in January might have eliminated him from consideration, Thomson argued that Makhachev’s departure from the division should negate that reason.
“I can understand them [UFC] being upset…but now that Islam is gone, that fight has disappeared. He’s still the number one contender. Ilia coming up, guaranteed or promised the title shot. I just want to see the two guys from Georgia fight!”
Arman Tsarukyan expressed frustration over Charles Oliveira’s stance on UFC rematch
While Oliveira and Topuria have their upcoming assignment set, Tsarukyan’s next step in the UFC remains unclear.
The promotion indicated that the Georgia-born Armenian needs to re-earn a championship opportunity following the injury he sustained in Los Angeles earlier this year. However, finding him an opponent has apparently been a challenge.
Several months ago, the 28-year-old took to social media to criticize both Oliveira and Justin Gaethje for their apparent reluctance to face him.
More recently, Tsarukyan has directed his attention towards Paddy Pimblett, promising on X to decisively beat the Scouser should they meet in the cage down the line.
Percy Harlow