Arman Tsarukyan expressed his frustration after being overlooked for an interim lightweight title shot, which was instead given to Paddy Pimblett to face Justin Gaethje at UFC 324. Despite being the top contender for Ilya Topuria’s lightweight belt following his recent comeback, Tsarukyan was bypassed for a more crowd-pleasing fight between Pimblett and Gaethje. This decision sparked controversy among fans and fighters alike, especially since Gaethje’s recent record stands at 3 wins and 4 losses, while Pimblett moved up from ninth to fifth in the rankings without competing.
In an interview with ESPN MMA, Tsarukyan did not hold back his anger, even offering to assist Gaethje with his training. He criticized the matchmaking, suggesting that Pimblett was given an easy opponent because it was clear he would lose to Ilya Topuria, while true contenders like himself were left waiting. Tsarukyan vividly described how he would approach fighting Pimblett, emphasizing his disdain for the Brit and declaring he would relentlessly attack him with elbows rather than going for a submission. The Armenian fighter made it clear he detests Pimblett and wishes someone else, like Oliveira, had been selected to fight Gaethje.
Fan Take: This situation highlights the tension between fan-friendly matchups and merit-based opportunities in MMA. It underscores the ongoing debate about championship contenders and could spark more discussions on how promotional decisions impact fighter morale and the integrity of title fights.
