Ilia Topuria didn’t say a word, but the internet did what it always does. It filled the silence. A single Instagram Story, allegedly posted by Topuria’s soon-to-be ex-wife Giorgina, showing her holding their daughter with what fans believe is ‘El Matador’ partially visible in the frame, was enough to ignite a fresh wave of speculation.

The spark came from a post on X by Borz Dripmaev, who shared the screenshot and wrote, “Giorgina (Topurias ‘Ex’) posted this IG Story 18 hours ago we can clearly see Ilia’s head at the right. So this begs the question, is everything about his family issues staged just so he can avoid Arman Tsarukyan ?”

Within hours, timelines were flooded with theories that stretched far beyond family life and straight into title politics. Topuria is currently sidelined, dealing with a very public and very serious legal dispute tied to his divorce, while Arman Tsarukyan continues to circle as the division’s most persistent challenger.

Add in the fact that Justin Gaethje now holds the interim lightweight belt after UFC 324, and suddenly every move, or lack of one, is being dissected like a fight itself. Here’s what gets lost in the noise.

Topuria last fought in June 2025, knocking out Charles Oliveira in the first round to claim the vacant lightweight title. Since then, his absence hasn’t been about injuries or negotiations. It’s been about a legal situation serious enough to involve alleged threats, financial disputes, and custody concerns.

He’s also reportedly listed his $3.5 million Madrid mansion, a move that lines up far more with divorce proceedings than fight avoidance. Meanwhile, Arman Tsarukyan has done exactly what challengers do when they’re waiting: keep taking shots. In fact, he took it a step further as he even offered to buy Ilia Topuria’s house if he agreed to fight him. Yet, despite all that, the reactions came flooding in on social media!

Ilia Topuria’s alleged cameo in his wife’s Instagram story ignites speculation about “ducking” Arman Tsarukyan

One fan wrote, “if u are well enough to show up in IG stories, u are well enough to fight. i hate when men start acting mysterious instead of just standing on business.” It’s blunt, but it reflects a wider frustration MMA fans often have with inactivity. The issue? Being present in a family photo doesn’t equal being mentally or legally cleared to headline a multi-million-dollar title fight.

Another fan jumped straight to motive: “hes ducking arman for islam.” This theory suggests Ilia Topuria is strategically stalling to avoid Tsarukyan while angling for a third title at welterweight. But it ignores a key detail: ‘El Matador’ doesn’t get to pick his challenger unilaterally. The UFC has already shown lukewarm interest in Tsarukyan as a title opponent, and with Gaethje now holding interim gold, the most logical next step is unification, not selective matchmaking.

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One fan pushed back on the outrage entirely, writing, “Dude I dislike Ilia but obviously this is during scheduled visitation or an old photo.” That’s the most grounded take in the room. Social media posts lack timestamps, context, and intent. A single image doesn’t disprove months of legal proceedings and property sales.

Another asked the obvious: “Or maybe it’s an old picture?” Exactly. In an era where content gets recycled, reposted, and weaponized, assuming real-time meaning from one image is a leap. Wouldn’t you agree?

Still, others weren’t convinced. “Yes. He can’t keep ducking him,” one fan wrote, framing Tsarukyan as the unavoidable final boss. And then there was the most dramatic reaction of all: “Bro would genuinely hop on a rocket and move to mars forever just so he doesn’t fight Arman.” Funny? Sure. Fair? Not really.

The irony is that the same fans accusing Ilia Topuria of avoidance would be the first to complain if the UFC rushed him back mid-legal storm and the fight fell apart. For now, the only confirmed truth is this: one Instagram Story doesn’t outweigh court filings, public statements, or UFC matchmaking realities.