No explanation can save Ilia Topuria from scrutiny. For months, people wondered who Ilia Topuria would defend his title against. While Paddy Pimblett and Justin Gaethje made their case for getting a title shot, Arman Tsarukiyan defeated Dan Hooker to earn the right. People expected Tsarukiyan and Topuria to meet in the Octagon to kickstart UFC’s Paramount era in January with UFC 324. However, ‘El Matador’ quickly dropped a bomb.

“I won’t be fighting in the first quarter of next year,” Topuria wrote on X. “I’m going through a difficult moment in my personal life. I want to focus on my children and resolve this situation as soon as possible.” Despite the explanation, all bets were off, and people had made up their minds, including former two-time UFC champion TJ Dillashaw . T

See Full Page