Overview
- Islam Makhachev’s manager Ali Abdelaziz criticized Ilia Topuria on X for taking public shots at Khabib, Makhachev, and Arman Tsarukyan while not competing.
- Arman Tsarukyan fired back online after Topuria told him to “go f*ck yourself,” calling the absent champion “a joke” for doing interviews during his break.
- Topuria said he supports Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett for the interim title at UFC 324 and expects to face the winner to unify when he returns.
- New footage showed Topuria training with Merab Dvalishvili, prompting return chatter, though no comeback date or change to his status has been announced.
- Topuria remains on hiatus citing alleged extortion over false domestic-abuse claims and continued to target Makhachev in interviews, vowing to submit him in front of Khabib Nurmagomedov.