Renato Moicano Gives Ilia Topuria Edge Over Arman Tsarukyan Ahead of Potential Super Fight

At UFC 311, Tsarukyan was originally scheduled to challenge Islam Makhachev for the lightweight title, but a sudden back injury forced him out. Moicano, who was initially booked against Beneil Dariush on the same card, received a surprising opportunity to step in against Makhachev.

Before the fight, the Brazilian expressed immense confidence and motivation, but the Dagestani champion showcased his dominance, submitting him effortlessly. Despite the loss, Moicano walked away with an impressive one million dollar payout, making it the biggest payday of his career.

However, Moicano recently suffered another tough defeat against Dariush, leaving him desperate for redemption. On the other hand, Tsarukyan initially received an array of criticism for pulling out at the very last minute. UFC CEO Dana White decided to penalize Tsarukyan, insisting that he must re-establish his status as a legitimate title contender.

Determined to climb back, Tsarukyan has aggressively pursued high-profile bouts against notable names like Charles Oliveira and Justin Gaethje. A few months ago at UFC 317, the Armenian served as the official backup fighter, successfully making weight to demonstrate commitment.

Arman Tsarukyan teases potential UFC comeback 

Newly crowned lightweight champion Ilia Topuria outrightly refused to grant Arman Tsarukyan a title shot, sparking criticism from fans and analysts. Many accused ‘El Matador’ of following Jon Jones’ path by avoiding the division’s top contender instead of accepting a rightful challenge.

In response, Tsarukyan persistently attempted to provoke Topuria, mocking his abilities and questioning his legitimacy as the undisputed champion. However, not only Topuria, but Dana White also remains skeptical about giving a title shot to the Armenian fighter.

Islam Makhachev recently spoke about this drama in an interview and mentioned that Tsarukyan deserves the title shot. He and Khabib Nurmagomedov both predicted the Armenian would give big trouble to Topuria if the fight ever materialized. 

Tsarukyan even ridiculed Topuria’s wrestling skills publicly while issuing a bold $500K challenge, yet received complete silence from the Spanish-Georgian champion. However, Tsarukyan is desperate to get back inside the octagon, and it is visible by his frequent participation in grappling tournaments. In a recent social media post, the Armenian posted pictures of his fighting gear and wrote, ”Soon.”

Previously, Tsarukyan revealed he had conversations with UFC officials and expects to compete on the upcoming Abu Dhabi or Qatar card. According to Tsarukyan, potential opponents include popular names like Dan Hooker , rising star Paddy Pimblett , or Justin Gaethje.

The Armenian fighter already shares significant animosity with both Hooker and Pimblett, adding extra drama and intrigue to these potential matchups.

Pimblett recently mocked Tsarukyan, claiming the lightweight contender had everything handed to him on a silver spoon effortlessly. In response, Tsarukyan fired back, accusing the UK superstar of enjoying special treatment and benefiting from Dana White privilege throughout his career.

Similarly, Hooker has consistently mocked Tsarukyan ever since the Armenian fighter withdrew from their scheduled bout at UFC 311. In a recent interview, Hooker confirmed his medical clearance for October, creating perfect conditions for a high-stakes grudge match