In an eventful week in MMA, two major stories have taken over the headlines, with champion Islam Makhachev making it clear that he’s not interested in a fight with rising star Ilia Topuria, while Arman Tsarukyan made waves after an intense incident involving his coach inside the octagon.

Islam Makhachev Dismisses Ilia Topuria Fight: “Not Interested”

Islam Makhachev, the current UFC lightweight champion, has been making headlines for all the right reasons with his dominant performances inside the octagon. However, in a surprising turn of events, Makhachev has publicly dismissed the idea of a future showdown with the undefeated featherweight contender, Ilia Topuria.

Topuria, who has been making waves in the UFC with his explosive performances, has recently expressed interest in moving up to lightweight to challenge Makhachev for the title. However, the Russian champion isn’t particularly intrigued by the prospect of facing Topuria.

“I’m not interested in fighting Topuria,” Makhachev said in a recent interview. “He’s a great fighter, but he’s not on my radar right now. I’ve been focused on defending my lightweight title against the best, and he’s not in that picture yet.”

Makhachev’s comments have left fans wondering if Topuria, who has been climbing up the featherweight rankings with some spectacular performances, might need to prove himself even further before being considered for a lightweight title shot. The Russian champion, known for his grappling mastery and fight IQ, is focused on bigger challenges in his own division, including potential matchups with top contenders like Charles Oliveira, Justin Gaethje, and Beneil Dariush.

Despite Makhachev’s lack of interest, Topuria remains a force to be reckoned with, and many believe it’s only a matter of time before he steps into the lightweight division. But for now, Makhachev is leaving the idea of facing the Georgian powerhouse on the back burner.

Arman Tsarukyan KNOCKS Coach Out of OCTAGON in Intense Incident

In another jaw-dropping story from the MMA world, lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan has made headlines for an incident involving his coach during a post-fight celebration. After his impressive victory in a recent bout, Tsarukyan was caught in a heated exchange with his coach that escalated dramatically. In what many have described as an unusual and intense moment, Tsarukyan accidentally knocked his coach out of the octagon during a celebratory moment.

The incident occurred right after Tsarukyan secured a dominant win, showing his usual blend of speed, strength, and technique. As Tsarukyan was celebrating with his team in the cage, his coach was getting involved in the festivities. In a moment of high emotion, Tsarukyan, while attempting to hug and express his joy, accidentally delivered a powerful strike that sent his coach tumbling out of the octagon.

Video footage quickly circulated, showing the coach being sent flying over the cage’s edge, leaving everyone in the arena in shock. Though it was an accident, the moment quickly became viral, with fans and analysts reacting to the bizarre situation. Thankfully, the coach was unharmed and immediately laughed off the incident, embracing the chaos of the moment.

Tsarukyan himself seemed a bit embarrassed by the situation but quickly laughed it off, stating, “I didn’t mean to do that! It was just a crazy moment. We were all hyped up, and things got out of hand a little bit.”

Despite the light-hearted nature of the incident, it highlights just how passionate Tsarukyan is about his performances, and how deeply he feels about the victories he achieves inside the octagon. With his impressive skill set and promising future, Tsarukyan continues to be a rising star in the UFC lightweight division, and his raw emotion only adds to his already growing fan base.

What’s Next for Makhachev, Topuria, and Tsarukyan?

While Makhachev may not be interested in facing Topuria at the moment, the world of MMA moves fast, and things can change in the blink of an eye. If Topuria continues his meteoric rise, it’s possible that Makhachev may eventually have to face the rising star, especially if Topuria continues to impress in his fights. However, for now, Makhachev remains laser-focused on defending his lightweight title against the top contenders in the division.

For Tsarukyan, the accidental knock-out of his coach won’t overshadow the fact that he’s one of the brightest prospects in the lightweight division. With his well-rounded skills and dominant performances, Tsarukyan is well on his way to a future title shot. His emotional and passionate approach to the sport endears him to fans, and his next fight is bound to draw even more attention.

As for the division itself, it continues to be stacked with talent, and the drama surrounding fighters like Makhachev, Topuria, and Tsarukyan is only fueling the excitement for future matchups. Will Topuria eventually make the jump to lightweight? Can Tsarukyan continue to climb the ranks? And will Makhachev keep defending his title with the same dominance we’ve seen so far?