It appears that Ilia Topuria wasn’t lying when he mentioned his reason for vacating his 145lbs title for a move to lightweight. “The UFC promised me I’d fight for the belt. That’s why I vacated it. And they’ve always kept their promise,” the 28-year-old asserted while doubling down on his need for a shot at gold. Well, guess what? #1 ranked 155lbs contender Arman Tsarukyan recently made some interesting statements about the UFC’s plans for ‘La Leyenda’. It appears that the Armenian is convinced that Topuria had been promised a fight for Islam Makhachev‘s belt. However, he also sided with the Dagestani champion when it comes to his legacy in the lightweight division.

As we all know, it is common knowledge for most fans that Makhachev doesn’t want to give another chance to a featherweight champion who hasn’t really made a mark in the lightweight division. Ilia Topuria needs, at least, one win over a top 155-pounder to make his case for a title shot, claimed the Dagestan native. Tsarukyan echoed the same sentiment and even defended his rival’s decision to avoid a 145’er, hinting that Makhachev is probably moving up after fighting the #1 contender, who is ‘Ahalkalakets’ himself.

“I think he left 145 lbs because they said, ‘Okay, we’re gonna give you title fight,'” Arman Tsarukyan stated on the JAXXON podcast. “Islam doesn’t want to fight him because if he beats him, people gonna say, ‘Okay, he again beat 145’er. He’s not a contender. If Islam beats me, then I think he’s done in this division. He beat everybody. He gotta beat me, and people can say that.”

However, UFC 315 will give us the answer about Islam Makhachev’s potential move. If Belal Muhammad retains his title, maybe the 155 lbs kingpin will have to give in to Ilia Topuria’s demands for a title shot, according to Tsarukyan. “If he doesn’t move [to 170 lbs], yeah, [Makhachev will fight Topuria],” the 28-year-old added.

For the unversed, Khabib Nurmagomedov recently told Adam Zubayraev that the Dagestani won’t be fighting Muhammad no matter what. For ‘Team Khabib’, blood is thicker than gold! Moreover, the 170lbs kingpin has also made it clear from his end that he won’t be fighting his ‘brother’. However, Nurmagomedov did mention the possibility of Makhachev moving up if Jack Della Maddalena could slay Muhammad at UFC 315 in Montreal. So a lot depends on the next UFC PPV!

However, Ilia Topuria is already devising his own tactics to get Islam Makhachev to give a title shot as soon as possible. If you’re wondering what that tactic is, it’s simply him playing the waiting game. Here’s what he had to say!

Ilia Topuria plans to fight no one other than Islam Makhachev

Waiting hasn’t helped too many fighters in the UFC. While waiting for over two years for the ‘red panty night’ payout for a fight against Conor McGregor, lightweight star Michael Chandler wasted a couple of valuable years in his fighting career. So, it may not be wise for Ilia Topuria to do the same. ‘La Leyenda’ previously mentioned the possibility of going up against Charles Oliveira, but the Brazilian isn’t on board to fight for anything other than the belt.

And recently, Topuria also reiterated his title fight aspirations as the UFC promised, and to get that, he’s willing to ‘sideline’ himself till then, which he doesn’t think is what Dana White and Co. would think is best for business. “I would like to fight with Islam, that is for sure, I would like to fight him. I wouldn’t fight for a No. 1 contender fight. If  Islam decides he doesn’t want to fight me. I’ll sit until you’re gonna have to fight me,” Ilia Topuria told Joe Rogan on the latter’s podcast.

“I don’t think they would put me on the sidelines, because I vacated the belt because I told them I wouldn’t fight at 145 again, but I got a promise that I would fight for the title in my next fight. So, how much time will you stop me from fighting?”

The picture will be clear in the next few weeks, but as far as the current scenario is concerned, Ilia Topuria is not looking like he’ll get a title shot anytime soon. But what do you think? Drop your comments below.