Arman Tsarukyan thinks the UFC’s first major occasion of 2026 is nothing greater than a joke.
UFC 324 takes place from the acquainted setting of T-Cell Enviornment in Las Vegas, the place Paddy Pimblett faces Justin Gaethje for the interim light-weight championship. The winner will problem undisputed titleholder Ilya Topria someday in 2025, a lot to Tsarukian’s dismay.
For greater than a yr, Tsarukyan has been the highest contender within the light-weight division, however as an alternative of competing for an interim belt this Saturday evening, he’ll sit on the sidelines and watch two lower-ranked athletes combat for the belt.
“Paddy Pimblett vs. Justin Gaethje…I hope it is Gaethje as a result of I do not like Paddy,” Tsarukyan informed Demetrius Johnson. “If it have been me vs. Paddy proper now, it could be a really large combat. Gaethje is not that attention-grabbing. He barely beat Fiziev, however they gave him a title combat. If Paddy wins, in fact I would like him. I will beat him simply. To me, it is a joke that they are competing for the belt once I’m the No. 1 contender.”
Arman Tsarukyan nonetheless goals for title combat after final yr’s debacle
Tsarukyan was truly scheduled to face then-champion Islam Makhachev final January, however a decrease again damage pressured him to withdraw from the bout simply 48 hours after combat evening. The damage drew intense scrutiny and Dana White was pressured to take Tsarukyan “again to sq. one” earlier than he had an opportunity at UFC gold.
‘Ahal Karaketz’ has since scored a second spherical submission victory over Dan Hooker in November. Many, together with Tsarukian, thought that was sufficient to get him again into the UFC’s good graces.
It seems that is not the case.
Now, Tsarukyan will spend most of 2026 on the sidelines, ready for the winner of Ilya Topuria vs. Pimblett or Gaethje, relying on who wins this weekend.
