UFC icon throws shade at Ilia Topuria for dodging top contender: "I kinda get where he’s coming from"

In the world of mixed martial arts, where rankings and resumes typically dictate title fights, UFC Featherweight Champion Ilia Topuria’s apparent hesitation to face #1 contender Arman Tsarukyan has sparked a fierce debate. And now, UFC Bantamweight Champion Sean O’Malley is offering a nuanced take on the rising controversy—backing Topuria’s mindset, but not without a subtle dig.

O’Malley understands Topuria’s calculated moves

Speaking on The Overdogs Podcast, Sean O’Malley weighed in on the situation, acknowledging that while Arman Tsarukyan is one of the most dangerous fighters in the lightweight division, Ilia Topuria may have larger priorities in mind.

“Arman definitely has a chance,” O’Malley said, referring to Tsarukyan’s potential in a matchup against Topuria. “He definitely has a shot.”

However, ‘Suga’ didn’t stop there. He went on to question whether fighting Tsarukyan truly aligns with Ilia Topuria’s best interests—especially when higher-profile fights are available.

“In Ilia’s mind… Ilia’s such a massive superstar right now. It’s like, why fight Arman when you could fight Islam [Makhachev] or even Gaethje? I think Paddy is a bigger fight,” Sean O’Malley explained. “So it just depends on where Ilia’s head’s at. Does he want to just go out there and say hey, I want the next best guy?”

O’Malley implied that Topuria is more interested in legacy-defining, money-making bouts rather than following the conventional challenger order.

“He’s kinda like, who’s the biggest fight? What’s gonna [get] the most attention? And in his mind, it’s not Arman right now,” O’Malley added. “So, I kinda get where he’s coming from.”

Ilia Topuria’s champion strategy: Marketing over merit?

The debate was initially ignited when Ilia Topuria reportedly suggested that he would rather vacate his title than fight Tsarukyan—who had pulled out of a previous title shot due to injury. This comment led to analysts like Michael Bisping and Paul Felder questioning whether the Spanish-Georgian champ was “pulling a Jon Jones” by avoiding dangerous contenders in favor of safer, more marketable bouts.

Sean O’Malley’s commentary doesn’t entirely dismiss those criticisms, but it does offer a business-oriented lens.

“Why risk it against someone that’s not super popular, who’s very, very, very dangerous?” he asked.

It’s a sentiment many champions have echoed before—risk versus reward. In the fight game, that equation often leans more toward fame and pay-per-view numbers than merit-based matchmaking.

What’s next for Topuria?

With potential showdowns against Justin Gaethje, Islam Makhachev, or even Paddy Pimblett on the table, Ilia Topuria finds himself at a career crossroads. Does he take the high-risk path against Tsarukyan to legitimize his reign, or chase the glitz of blockbuster fights?

Either way, Sean O’Malley’s comments underline an evolving truth in modern MMA: being a champion isn’t just about fighting the best—it’s about fighting smart.