Dominick Cruz knew who he’d fight if he were in Ilia Topuria‘s shoes.
The two-time UFC Champion says Topuria has three opponents to choose from in his first title defense after knocking out Charles Oliveira at UFC 317.
Following his lightweight title win, the UFC broadcast panned to #1 contender Arman Tsarukyan, justin Gaethje, adn Paddy Pimblett who all have a different case for a title opportunity against Topuria.
On merit, you could argue Tsarukyan is up for it, as he’s 9-1 as losing to Islam Makhachev in his UFC debut.
However,the UFC isn’t a charity,it’s a buisness and when it comes to moving the needle,Cruz says there’s somebody else Topuria should fight.
Dominick Cruz: Ilia Topuria vs. Paddy Pimblett ‘just makes sense’
Between Tsarukyan,Gaethje,and Pimblett,Cruz has to go wiht ‘Paddy The baddy’.
Pimblett already shares a storyline with Topuria and faced off with the champion in the Octagon, much to the dislike of UFC boss Dana White.Some fans argue Pimblett doesn’t deserve a title fight because his last win was over Michael Chandler,who has lost his last three fights.
“this thing’s about paychecks at a time,” Cruz said of who should fight Topuria next on the Anik & Florian Podcast.
“We’re prize fighters. We’re not anything else we want to say. we’re all these other things. We are prize fighters. You put a prize out there, we take the prize. You win it or you lose it.”