UFC veteran Matt Brown shared his perspective on Ilia Topuria`s future, particularly focusing on potential opponents after a recent significant win (which the source text describes as knocking out Charles Oliveira at UFC 317, hypothetically securing a second divisional title). According to the article, immediately following this event, Topuria listed several potential challengers, including Arman Tsarukyan, but seemed to pivot towards settling his long-standing rivalry with Paddy Pimblett.
Given the visible animosity between Topuria and Pimblett, their matchup appears likely to be Topuria`s first title defense as lightweight champion. However, UFC notable Matt Brown expressed a strong hope that this would not be the case. Speaking on a podcast, Brown stated, “It`s probably going to be Paddy but it should goddamn well be Arman.” He added that while Topuria has achieved remarkable things so far, calling out Pimblett rather than prioritizing Tsarukyan suggests he might be avoiding the tougher challenge.
Brown articulated his personal preference, saying he wants to see Topuria fight Arman. He believes that if Topuria defeats Tsarukyan, especially in convincing fashion, but even just a victory, it would be a more significant achievement for Topuria`s legacy than the hypothetical win over Oliveira mentioned earlier in the source text.
He emphasized that by all metrics, Tsarukyan stands out as the most deserving contender in the lightweight division. Brown noted Tsarukyan`s previous issues with the UFC stemming from a back injury withdrawal from a fight against then-champion Islam Makhachev, and Dana White`s subsequent requirement for Tsarukyan to secure another win. However, the championship picture has changed with Topuria`s ascension.
While acknowledging Paddy Pimblett`s significant star power and ability to attract viewership, Brown maintained that a win over Pimblett would not contribute nearly as much to Topuria`s career standing as a victory over Tsarukyan would.
In fact, Brown believes that if Topuria can dispatch Tsarukyan, following impressive wins over fighters like Alexander Volkanovski (and the hypothetical Oliveira win mentioned by the source), he should already be considered among the sport`s all-time greats. Brown explicitly stated, “Ilia to me is on the verge of we start comparing him to like Jon Jones.” He suggested that defeating Arman, or potentially future opponents like Islam Makhachev or Jack Della Maddalena, would elevate Topuria to discussions of “Jon Jones level greatness.”
Brown compared Topuria`s current string of impressive performances (including the hypothetical Oliveira win described in the source) to parts of Jon Jones` celebrated undefeated record. While acknowledging Jones` achievements, Brown speculated that Topuria`s recent run might arguably be superior to some of Jones` three-fight stretches, acknowledging the perspective gained from hindsight.
He argued that as exceptional as Jones was, he eventually faced some opponents who perhaps didn`t fully deserve the opportunity, potentially due to a less deep talent pool in the light heavyweight division where Jones predominantly competed.
Brown contrasted this with the lightweight division, traditionally one of the deepest and toughest in MMA. He posited that Topuria`s potential trajectory, especially if he continues to beat challenging opponents like Tsarukyan, combined with his victories over featherweight legends (Volkanovski, Holloway), is building a resume that could rival or even surpass certain aspects of Jones` legacy.
“I want to see the run keep going,” Brown stated, expressing his desire for Topuria to consistently face the most formidable opponents to truly test his limits, contrasting this with what he perceived as a potential decline in the level of competition Jones faced later in his career.
He stressed that beating Arman next would serve as a powerful validation of Topuria`s greatness, particularly as Tsarukyan represents the most logical high-level challenge at lightweight, barring potential future matchups like Islam Makhachev (depending on circumstances) or a move up in weight class.
Brown did acknowledge the business realities, understanding that choosing Pimblett over Tsarukyan would likely result in a significantly more profitable fight with potentially less competitive risk.
Nevertheless, Brown maintained his stance that Tsarukyan is the opponent Topuria should face for the sake of his legacy. He views the Tsarukyan fight as the one that carries the most weight in solidifying Topuria`s potential claim to being considered the greatest fighter of all time.
Brown concluded by reiterating that while the fight with Paddy Pimblett appears probable and would undoubtedly be a massive event, he would continue to argue vehemently that the true fight for Topuria`s legacy, the one that genuinely matters for his potential claim as the greatest ever, is against Arman Tsarukyan.
Marcus Blakely 
Wesley Dunham