Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 311 press conference and Ilia Topuria at UFC 317 press conference. Credit: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Getty Images

Arman Tsarukyan proposes $500,000 bet to Ilia Topuria after UFC champ refused no. 1 contender

Originally posted on Bloody Elbow
By Christopher De Santiago | Last updated Jul 25, 2025 11:08 PM ET

Arman Tsarukyan is ready to put his money where his mouth is against Ilia Topuria.

The #1 UFC lightweight in the world secured his place at the top of the division with back-to-back wins over former champion Charles Oliveira and perennial contender Beneil Dariush.

9-1 since losing to Islam Makhachev in his UFC debut, Tsarukyan still has yet to get a title fight as he withdrew from his UFC 311 rematch with then champion Makhachev in January, due to a back injury.

Tsarukyan has been touted to be Topuria’s toughest test at 155 lbs because of his grappling-heavy style, but there is a chance the contender has to fight again as UFC boss Dana White wasn’t happy with how he pulled out of UFC 311.

Topuria recently stated he’d rather vacate the title than fight Tsarukyan next, which has been met with much backlash from the fans.

There are no guarantees the fight happens next, but Tsarukyan is willing to make it more interesting.

Arman Tsarukyan wagers $500,000 he’ll beat Ilia Topuria

Speaking on the Overdogs podcast, Mike Perry asked Tsarukyan, as rich as he is, if he would put any money on the line in a potential fight with Topuria.

The son of a wealthy construction magnate and the #1 seed in the lightweight division, Tsarukyan obliged.

“I can put like half a million if he beat me,” said Tsarukyan.

“If I beat him, he’s gonna give me a half a million,” Tsarukyan said of Topuria.

“If he wants to make that, I’m down. We can shake hands, fight…”

Daniel Cormier says Arman Tsarukyan is deserving of next title shot

What was initially a three-man race for Topuria’s title between Tsarukyan, Justin Gaethje, and Paddy Pimblett, just got a little bigger with Max Holloway back in the title conversation following his win over Dustin Poirier at UFC 318.

Each fighter has a different case for why they should get a title fight.

Gaethje believes he deserves it after winning three out of his last four fights, threatening to retire if it’s not Topuria who he fights next.

Paddy Pimblett could be the biggest pay-per-view draw of them all, given his heated rivalry with Topuria.

However, former two-division champion Daniel Cormier believes the next title shot should go to Tsarukyan.

“I believe, all things considered, merit, warranted, I think it probably should be Arman,” Cormier said on his YouTube channel.