Arman Tsarukyan did not see this coming.
Over Thanksgiving, UFC CEO Dana White announced that UFC 324 will be headlined by an interim lightiweight title fight between former interim champion Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett. The news came on the heels of lightweight champion Ilia Topuria announcing he would be taking some time off for personal reasons, and was met with significant backlash, given that Tsarukyan is the clear-cut No. 1 contender at lightweight. But Tsarukyan has a theory about what happened.
“I already knew that Paddy was going to fight with Ilia Topuria in January, but I didn’t know they’re going to do interim title vs. Gaethje and Paddy,” Tsarukyan told ESPN. “But I knew that UFC wants to do Ilia vs. Paddy, and on my mind, I didn’t think something happened, even if I knocked [Hooker] out, because they already set up all things.
“But at the end of the day, Ilia didn’t fight, and I think this is the UFC game plan. They want to make a star [out of] Paddy Pimblett, to bring him to fight for the title with Topuria as a bigger name and make a big fight. Like Khabib vs. Conor, but they’re not even got the belt.”
Others share Tsarukyan’s sentiment, with a growing belief that “merit” has become increasingly less important in the UFC. But for Tsarukyan, that doesn’t matter: he intended to achieve his goals, one way or the other.
“It’s hard because it’s your goal,” Tsarukyan said. “Why bullshit guy like Paddy beat like one ranked No 12 and they made a fake ranking and put him at five? It’s a business, it’s not just a sport. So, they can do whatever they want to do, but at the end of the day, I’m going to be a champion. It’s just time.”
If Tsarukyan is going to be champion, it won’t be for some time. With Gaethje and Pimblett set to square off in January, UFC CEO Dana White has already said the winner will face Topuria sometime in 2026. That’s cold comfort to Tsarukyan, who is being passed over, but he has an alternative option in mind, if that happens.
“They could give me, they’re supposed to give me a BMF title, at least,” Tsarukyan said. “Because what are they going to give me? Who we have in our division to fight? For me, if it’s not Holloway. there’s no names. Charles Oliveira 2? It don’t make sense. If they want to see him losing again, no problem. They’ve got to take care of their legends. Don’t put against killers.”
UFC 324 takes place on Jan. 24 in Las Vegas.
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SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE
Turtle shells famously do not slide off.
Tsarukyan should not fight for the BMF belt. That’s silly. But he should fight for the lightweight title, sooner rather than later. Hopefully it’s sooner.
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