Paddy Pimblett: 'Arman Tsarukyan's Lack of Title Shot is Self-Inflicted'
The UFC's lightweight champion, Ilia Topuria, is currently sidelined due to personal issues, leading to an interim title fight between Paddy Pimblett and Justin Gaethje. This fight is set to be the main event at UFC 324, marking the promotion's inaugural show under a new seven-year, $7.7 billion broadcast deal with Paramount.
However, the decision to give Pimblett and Gaethje the opportunity over Arman Tsarukyan has sparked controversy. Tsarukyan, ranked below both Pimblett and Gaethje, is sitting on the sidelines while the two fighters get a shot at the UFC gold. While UFC CEO Dana White argues that Tsarukyan had his chance and blew it by suffering an injury during fight week, Pimblett believes there's more to the story.
In an interview, Pimblett expressed his views on the situation, stating, 'I think it’s just the way it panned out. Because obviously Ilia’s sat out, Arman’s a little b*tch, they don’t really want to give it to him. Then Max [Holloway] and Charles [Oliveira] are fighting each other for the ‘BMF’ belt so it all just worked out that it was me and Gaethje left.'
Pimblett further emphasized his point by saying, 'Everyone’s saying I don’t deserve a title shot, [Gaethje] doesn’t deserve a title shot but I’ve got the longest win streak in the division and Justin Gaethje’s a perennial contender. He’s an absolute legend. So I think they thought it was the right fight to make at the time.'
The 'certain d*ckhead' reference is clearly aimed at Tsarukyan, who has had a tumultuous relationship with the UFC. He was suspended by the Nevada Athletic Commission after a physical altercation with a fan during his walkout at UFC 300 and later headbutted Dan Hooker during a weigh-in faceoff.
Pimblett, however, remains open to facing Tsarukyan in the future, especially if Topuria remains out of action for an extended period. He stated, 'That’s annoying me people saying ‘you’re ducking, Arman,’ I’ve never been offered to fight Arman. If I ever got offered to fight Arman, I would have punched his head in by now. He irritates me. He’s an absolute helmet.'
Pimblett's focus is currently on the upcoming fight with Gaethje, but he's also looking ahead to potentially settling some unfinished business with Topuria, Tsarukyan, or whoever else the UFC might throw his way.
