Daniel Cormier, a former UFC champion turned analyst, took aim at Michael Bisping for criticizing lightweight champion Ilia Topuria’s decision to avoid fighting top contender Arman Tsarukyan. Bisping, a former UFC middleweight champion, and his podcast co-host Paul Felder called out Topuria for saying he’d rather vacate his belt than face Tsarukyan. Cormier defended Topuria, pointing out Bisping made similar choices when he was champion, but also agreed Tsarukyan deserves the next title shot.
This angle of Ilia Topuria’s knockout shows just how serious the power in his hands really is 💥🥶👊
(via: @ufc ) pic.twitter.com/pM91clzEzy
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) June 29, 2025
Topuria’s Stance and Bisping’s Criticism
Ilia Topuria, the undefeated UFC lightweight champion, recently won the 155-pound title by knocking out Charles Oliveira at UFC 317. After the fight, Topuria faced off with Paddy Pimblett in the octagon, sparking talk of a big-money fight at Madison Square Garden. Bisping, on his “Believe You Me” podcast, slammed Topuria for dodging Tsarukyan, the No. 1 contender with a 23-3 record, comparing it to Jon Jones retiring instead of fighting Tom Aspinall. Felder echoed this, saying champions should face top challengers, not pick easier matchups.
Cormier pushed back on his YouTube channel, saying:
“Michael, Paul, I understand the frustration. But Mike, you were on the championship side. You know when you were getting ready to fight Dan Henderson, you wanted some get-back on him, so you fought him. But if there was a bigger fight for you – Georges St-Pierre, for that matter – you took it, even though Yoel Romero, at the time, Mike, was probably the more justified No. 1 contender. The bigger fight was GSP, and you took it. I get the frustration, but think about the champion’s side, too.”
Why Cormier Agrees with Bisping
Despite defending Topuria, Cormier admitted Tsarukyan should get the title shot.
“At the end of the day, I agree with y’all,” he said. “It should be Arman vs. Ilia, and I don’t think there’s any question about that. But I think the problem with it is that lasting memory of him and Paddy Pimblett inside the octagon after (he won) the belt. It’s going to be hard to erase, man. Frustrated? Sure. Mike: Don’t act like you ain’t sat in this position before, Michael. You know exactly why he’s doing that because you did it yourself when you had a chance to fight GSP instead of Yoel Romero.”
Tsarukyan, coming off a strong win over Beneil Dariush, has been vocal about deserving the next shot. Topuria, however, sees a fight with Pimblett, who’s 7-0 in the UFC, as a bigger draw due to their heated faceoff. Cormier noted the business side of Topuria’s choice, as a Pimblett fight could sell more pay-per-views, much like Bisping’s choice to fight Georges St-Pierre in 2017 over Romero, the top middleweight contender at the time.
Ilia Topuria, 28, is a Georgian-Spanish fighter with a 17-0 record. He won the UFC featherweight title in 2024 by knocking out Alexander Volkanovski and defended it against Max Holloway, becoming the first to stop Holloway by strikes. He then moved to lightweight, knocking out Oliveira at UFC 317 to claim the 155-pound belt. His clean striking and composed style have made him a star, with knockouts in his last three fights.
Michael Bisping, 46, is a former UFC middleweight champion from England. He won the title in 2016 by knocking out Luke Rockhold and defended it against Dan Henderson later that year, seeking revenge for a 2009 loss. In 2017, he chose a high-profile fight against Georges St-Pierre, a returning welterweight legend, over Yoel Romero, the No. 1 contender. Bisping lost the title to St-Pierre and retired in 2018 after an eye injury affected his career.
Topuria’s faceoff with Pimblett has the UFC leaning toward that matchup, but Tsarukyan’s strong case could force a title defense. Topuria has also called out welterweight champion Islam Makhachev, showing his ambition to chase bigger challenges. Bisping, despite his criticism, predicted on his YouTube channel that Topuria vs. Pimblett could headline at Madison Square Garden, citing Topuria’s finishing power. The lightweight division waits to see if Topuria will prioritize legacy or profit in his next move.
