UFC’s New “Long Series”: Topuria: The Featherweight Version of Jones?

Ilia Topuria may be undefeated inside the UFC cage, but outside of it, he’s now facing his toughest opponent yet: public backlash. The newly-crowned lightweight champion is being criticized for refusing to fight No. 1-ranked contender Arman Tsarukyan, with some saying he’s echoing Jon Jones’ infamous sidestep of interim champ Tom Aspinall.

Former middleweight king Michael Bisping put it bluntly: “Is Ilia Topuria pulling a Jon Jones?”

The Arman Tsarukyan Problem

Tsarukyan (22-3) is widely seen as the most dangerous challenger in the lightweight division. At just 27 years old, the Armenian-Russian phenom has built a reputation as a relentless, well-rounded, and tactical machine — a nightmare for anyone with gold around their waist.

And yet, when it came time for Topuria (17-0) to defend his newly acquired belt, he didn’t just decline the matchup — he threatened to vacate the title if forced to face Arman.

“Ilia Topuria said if the UFC made him fight Arman Tsarukyan, he would vacate the belt,” Bisping said on his YouTube channel. “That’s not a good look.”

Indeed, fans and fighters alike are calling foul. The UFC prides itself on meritocracy — fighting the best to prove you’re the best. Right now, Tsarukyan is ranked No. 1. He’s earned his shot.

And yet, Topuria appears to be doing everything in his power to avoid him.

The Jon Jones Comparison

The situation draws eerie parallels to Jon Jones, who vacated the UFC heavyweight title rather than face interim champ Tom Aspinall after an injury sidelined him. At the time, Jones claimed he wanted a “legacy” fight against Stipe Miocic, but the move was seen by many as a duck.

Now, fans are wondering if Topuria is doing the same — dodging the most dangerous opponent in the division while clinging to his unbeaten record.

“If you’re the champion — just like when Jon Jones was the champion — you’ve got to fight the No. 1 guy,” Bisping added. “Simple as that.”

And the similarities don’t stop there.

In a symbolic jab, Tsarukyan has even started carrying a rubber duck in his social media posts and public appearances — just as Aspinall once did to mock Jones. The imagery is clear: Arman is the hunter, and Topuria is running.

$500,000 on the Line – Tsarukyan Ups the Stakes

In a bold move, Tsarukyan has offered Topuria $500,000 of his own money if he loses — an outrageous but telling bet that shows just how badly he wants the fight.

“He’s doing whatever he can to get the fight,” Bisping said. “That’s how confident Arman is. He’s ready to put half a million on the line.”

Still, the UFC remains silent. Despite offers from other contenders like Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett, there’s no official word on who Topuria will face next — or when.

That silence is fueling frustration from fans who believe that if the UFC allows champions to pick and choose fights, the sport’s integrity begins to erode.

Why Topuria Might Be Hesitating

To be fair, Topuria has reasons — calculated or not.

The 27-year-old Spanish-Georgian fighter shocked the world earlier this year by defeating Alexander Volkanovski, capturing the 145-pound belt with a stunning knockout. But his ambition to jump to lightweight was met with skepticism, and now as a double-division figurehead, he may be trying to maximize financial gain while minimizing risk.

Some believe he’s leveraging his reluctance to fight Arman as a negotiating tactic — a way to increase his payday or force a more favorable location or card placement.

But whether it’s a tactic or truth, the optics are the same: Topuria looks like a champion unwilling to defend against the best.

Public Reaction: ‘Not a Good Look’

Fans have not responded kindly.

Across social media, memes and duck emojis flood the replies to every Topuria post. Phrases like “champion in name only” and “running scared” dominate discussion threads. Even neutral observers admit the situation is getting harder to defend.

“You could say Ilia’s only doing this to get under Arman’s skin,” Bisping said. “But it’s not a good look.”

The UFC’s Next Move

The UFC now finds itself in a familiar but uncomfortable position — how do you force a champion to fight when they don’t want to?

Dana White’s usual go-to move is to threaten the stripping of the belt or set up an interim title fight, as he did with Aspinall. And with contenders like Gaethje, Pimblett, and even Charles Oliveira hovering near title contention, that could become a viable route if Topuria continues to refuse.

But make no mistake: fans want Topuria vs. Tsarukyan. Anything else — no matter how exciting — would be seen as diluting the legitimacy of the title.

Final Thoughts: Can El Matador Redeem Himself?

Ilia Topuria is a phenomenal fighter — undefeated, electric, and a rising star. But right now, he risks tarnishing that image by avoiding the one fight that truly matters.

Whether it’s pride, strategy, or financial maneuvering, the result is the same: fans and fighters are turning against him.

If he wants to be remembered as a true champion, he needs to step into the cage with Arman Tsarukyan. Because legacy isn’t built on knockouts alone — it’s built on facing the toughest challenges head-on.

Otherwise, the duck will follow him forever.