The prediction landscape in mixed martial arts is often clouded by hype and wishful thinking. Yet, when a figure of Daniel Cormier’s standing speaks, the industry pays attention. The former two-division UFC champion and current analyst recently articulated a compelling scenario for the future of the top-tier divisions, specifically pointing to an unavoidable clash between two of the sport’s most technically sound rising stars: Ilia Topuria and Arman Tsarukyan.
The Lightweight Crucible and Two Dominant Forces
The Lightweight division (155 lbs) is arguably the most fiercely competitive weight class in the UFC. While Islam Makhachev currently holds the undisputed crown, the queue of challengers is long, distinguished, and exceptionally talented. It is into this context that Cormier places Arman Tsarukyan.
Cormier’s analysis is rooted in technical appreciation. He sees Tsarukyan as a physical specimen whose relentless conditioning and elite skillset make him the heir apparent. According to DC, outside of the current champion, Tsarukyan is “possibly the best lightweight in the world.”
Tsarukyan’s recent performances have solidified this technical assessment. His pressure, wrestling pedigree, and evolving striking game present complex problems for any opponent. He embodies the modern, complete mixed martial artist—big, strong, and highly durable.
The Featherweight King Looks Up
Ilia Topuria, the reigning UFC Featherweight (145 lbs) champion, enters this conversation not as a challenger in the 155-pound division (yet), but as a transcendent talent. His knockout power, psychological warfare, and perfect professional record have quickly elevated him to superstardom.
Cormier views both men as possessing something beyond mere skill—a marketable energy and the potential for a genuine rivalry that captures public imagination. It is the intersection of these two specific individuals, rather than just two ranked contenders, that makes the fight a matter of destiny.
“Topuria is amazing. I think Ilia and Arman are the two best guys in the world. I think sooner or later they will have to fight… It seems that Arman and Ilia have something special. And not just in terms of skill, but in terms of relationships around which you can build a great fight.”
The Inevitability of Superfights
The most lucrative and historically significant matchups in the UFC often transcend weight classes. Conor McGregor challenging Eddie Alvarez for the Lightweight belt while holding the Featherweight title, or even Cormier’s own ventures between Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight, established a blueprint for cross-divisional ambition. Topuria, having conquered 145 lbs, has consistently signaled his intent to move up and challenge for the Lightweight title.
If Tsarukyan were to dethrone Makhachev, or even solidify his position as the unquestioned top contender, the magnetic pull toward a Topuria vs. Tsarukyan clash becomes almost insurmountable. The narratives are ready-made: two undefeated or near-perfect records, two young fighters at the peak of their physical primes, and a clear division of fan loyalty.
External Factors and the Sporting Trajectory
While the sporting trajectory for both men is skyward, Topuria currently faces logistical hurdles. Recent news confirmed the Featherweight champion has postponed his immediate title defense plans. Regardless of the reasons for delays, such interruptions only intensify the anticipation for his next appearance, especially if it involves a jump up in weight class where the challenges—and rewards—are greater.
In the ruthless logic of combat sports, a fight becomes “inevitable” when the market demand, the sporting credentials, and the monetary incentive align perfectly. Cormier, with his keen sense of the UFC’s business model and the fighters’ potential, is not just making a hopeful prediction; he is calculating the necessary endgame for two careers destined for the highest echelons.
Whether this inevitable showdown takes place for the Lightweight title or as a high-stakes superfight remains to be seen. What is clear, however, is that Topuria and Tsarukyan represent the vanguard of the next generation of dominance, and the path to true legacy in the modern UFC seems to require an encounter between them.
Felix Harwood