Sonnen Reveals Topuria vs. Tsarukyan Lightweight Title Fight is Booked

According to former UFC fighter and analyst Chael Sonnen, the UFC has already booked Ilia Topuria's first lightweight title defense against Arman Tsarukyan. This revelation comes despite Topuria publicly rejecting the fight, which Sonnen believes is a tactic to build anticipation among fans, similar to what his former rival Anderson Silva used to do.

Many MMA experts, including Sonnen, have been backing Tsarukyan to receive a title shot against the reigning champion Topuria. However, the champion has stated that he is willing to vacate his title if Tsarukyan doesn't compete for the number one contender spot. In response, Tsarukyan has taken several jabs at Topuria, accusing him of avoiding the matchup.

Sonnen claims that the Topuria vs. Tsarukyan title fight is "100 percent the plan" for the UFC, barring any illness or injury. He suggests that Topuria's initial rejection of the fight is simply part of his approach, as he believes the champion is trying to build anticipation, much like Anderson Silva did in the past.

As for Tsarukyan, the Armenian fighter is ready to face Justin Gaethje in a title eliminator bout if he doesn't receive a direct title shot against Topuria. Tsarukyan recently earned a hard-fought split decision win over former champion Charles Oliveira, which earned him a title opportunity against Islam Makhachev, but he had to withdraw due to a back injury.

While Sonnen acknowledges that Tsarukyan presents a serious threat to Topuria's lightweight throne, he believes the reigning champion will ultimately prevail in a potential title fight between the two.