Arman Tsarukyan went on the offensive after UFC 324, accusing Paddy Pimblett and the UFC of fabricating a title shot by an “alternative given” after Pimblett’s lopsided loss to Justin Gaethje in Las Vegas. In the primary occasion of UFC 324 at T-Cell Enviornment, Gaethje defeated Pimblett by unanimous determination in 5 rounds to win the interim light-weight belt and hand the Liverpool native his first loss within the promotion.
‘Faux rankings’: Arman Tsarukian abandons UFC exit after upgrading Paddy Pimblett after UFC 324
Gaethje dropped Pimblett a number of occasions and outscored him on the scorecards, successful 48-47, 49-46, 49-46. Based on official statistics, Gaethje landed 200 strikes in comparison with 170 complete strikes, together with 144 vital strikes and three profitable takedowns, whereas Pimblett was 0-for-5 on his personal takedown makes an attempt. UFC president Dana White later praised Pimblett’s toughness and acknowledged that he was despatched to the hospital for preventative testing after struggling harm, however mentioned Pimblett’s method of standing and buying and selling with Gaethje with out counting on grappling was a poor sport plan.
Tsarukyan, who’s ranked No. 1 within the division, took the primary shot with the X. “That is what occurs while you’re given an opportunity and artificially pushed up the rankings. A totally unfair title win for Paddy,” he wrote, including that Pimblett’s interim probability was not earned by outcomes. The thread and different platforms went additional, claiming that “Justin positively has a staph an infection” and mocking Pimblett for saying, “This clown cannot beat Gaethje with antibiotics,” earlier than congratulating Gaethje’s “coronary heart” and insisting that Individuals would settle for a struggle with Justin.
The uproar is the newest chapter in a smoldering feud. Within the post-fight media after UFC 324, Tsarukyan known as Pimblett “trash”, claimed Pimblett “is not a prime fighter,” and mentioned Gaethje would not have had as a lot success in opposition to him or champion Ilya Topria. He questioned Pimblett’s sturdiness and conditioning, claiming Pimblett had been “knocked out 15 or 20 occasions,” and advised Gaethje may have completed him off a number of occasions, however as an alternative selected to journey out the choice.
Beneath the insult is real dissatisfaction with matchmaking. Tsarukyan is 23-3 and has continued his robust run with a break up determination win over former champion Charles Oliveira at UFC Qatar in 2024, adopted by a submission win over Dan Hooker at UFC Qatar in 2024. He was beforehand scheduled to problem then-champion Islam Makhachev earlier than withdrawing with a again harm, however then served as backup for the title struggle in opposition to Oliveira, vacated by Ilya Topria. When Topuria was sidelined from preventing in early 2026 attributable to private and authorized points, the UFC stuffed the void with an interim title struggle between Gaethje and Pimblett, maintaining the highest contender on the sideline.
From Tsarukian’s perspective, Pimblett was given a head begin on title worth. Pimblett entered UFC 324 ranked No. 5 within the light-weight division and was undefeated in seven fights within the UFC, rising to prominence with a stoppage victory over Michael Chandler. White repeatedly emphasised Pimblett’s means to “discover a technique to win,” evaluating his trajectory to Conor McGregor and highlighting the facility of the draw heading into the Gaethje struggle. The main focus of this promotion is exactly what Tsarukian calls “false rankings” and “given alternatives.”
There’s additionally clear proof that the UFC has grown chilly in direction of Tsarukyan. A headbutt in opposition to Hooker on the ceremonial weigh-ins at UFC Qatar drew criticism, and White later admitted that the incident, mixed with an earlier subject along with his withdrawal from the struggle in opposition to Makhachev, have been elements in his determination to cede the interim title slot to Hooker. This background explains Tsarukyan’s assertion that he’s within the promotion’s “doghouse” regardless of sitting on the prime of the rankings.
