Arman Tsarukyan expressed frustration after the UFC announced that Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett would compete for the interim lightweight title at UFC 324, following Ilya Topuria’s withdrawal. Despite being the top-ranked contender at 155 pounds, Tsarukyan seemingly lost his spot in the title picture due to off-cage behavior, a decision that left many puzzled, including former UFC champion Daniel Cormier.
Cormier initially felt Tsarukyan was unjustly overlooked but gained a clearer understanding after witnessing Gaethje’s victory over Pimblett. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Cormier explained that from the UFC’s perspective, the Gaethje-Topuria matchup for the lightweight title unification made strategic sense, especially with the possibility of the fight being held at the White House. He noted that having an American champion like Gaethje represent the UFC in such a high-profile event justified the promotion’s choices, making the interim title fight and the overall scenario more logical in hindsight.
Meanwhile, UFC legend Demetrius Johnson, who recently trained with Tsarukyan, believes the Armenian fighter still has the strongest chance to dethrone Topuria. Johnson emphasized that Tsarukyan deserved a shot at the interim belt and should be next in line to face whoever wins between Gaethje and Topuria, citing Tsarukyan as the most capable lightweight challenger for the title.
Fan Take: This development highlights the UFC’s balancing act between fighter rankings and promotional strategy, which can sometimes leave top contenders sidelined. For fans, it signals exciting potential matchups ahead, especially if Tsarukyan gets his chance to challenge for the lightweight crown, keeping the division dynamic and unpredictable.
