TLDR
- Arman Tsarukyan defeated Dan Hooker by submission at UFC Qatar and expects a title shot
- Lightweight champion Ilia Topuria wants to fight Paddy Pimblett instead of Tsarukyan
- Tsarukyan accuses Topuria of being scared and seeking easier matchups
- Tsarukyan refuses to fight anyone except Conor McGregor before getting a title shot
- Tsarukyan dismisses Pimblett’s skills and says he cannot compete with top fighters
Arman Tsarukyan secured a second-round submission victory over Dan Hooker at UFC Qatar last weekend. The win strengthened his position as the top contender in the lightweight division.
Tsarukyan expected the performance would earn him a championship opportunity. However, lightweight champion Ilia Topuria has different plans for his first title defense.
Topuria won the belt by knocking out former champion Charles Oliveira at UFC 317. After the victory, he called out Paddy Pimblett, who was in attendance at the event.
The two fighters entered the octagon for a heated exchange that ended with Topuria shoving Pimblett. Topuria has stated multiple times in recent interviews that he wants to face Pimblett next.
Tsarukyan believes Topuria is avoiding him because he represents a tougher challenge. He told Daniel Cormier that the champion is scared to fight him.
“He doesn’t want to fight me. He’s scared of me,” Tsarukyan said. “It’s easier to beat Paddy Pimblett, make easy fight and go and move up.”
The Armenian fighter thinks Topuria sees an advantage in choosing Pimblett as an opponent. He believes the champion wants an easier path that still generates good pay.
Tsarukyan’s Stance on Future Fights
Tsarukyan made clear he will not accept another fight before receiving a title shot. The only exception he would make is for Conor McGregor.
“No way,” Tsarukyan said when asked if he would fight before competing for the championship. “If it’s not Conor McGregor, I wouldn’t fight.”
He also criticized Topuria for not promoting a potential matchup between them. Tsarukyan believes the champion is deliberately avoiding mentions of his name to build hype with Pimblett instead.
Criticism of Paddy Pimblett
Tsarukyan expressed strong doubts about Pimblett’s ability to compete at the top level. He listed several elite fighters he believes Pimblett cannot defeat.
“Paddy cannot beat even Oliveira. He cannot beat even Hooker. He cannot beat Poirier. He cannot beat Gaethje. He cannot beat Holloway. He cannot beat me,” Tsarukyan said.
Pimblett defeated Bobby Green by first-round submission at UFC 304. The finish came via triangle choke after a failed takedown attempt by Green.
Tsarukyan dismissed the victory and questioned Green’s skill level. He referenced Islam Makhachev’s viral “2-3 years in Dagestan” comment while assessing Green’s abilities.
The rivalry between Tsarukyan and Pimblett has grown through social media exchanges. Tsarukyan has questioned Pimblett’s level of competition while Pimblett has mocked Tsarukyan’s lifestyle outside the cage.
Pimblett’s rapid rise in the rankings has drawn scrutiny from other contenders. His positioning as a potential title challenger has sparked debate about whether he has faced championship-level competition.
Topuria has not yet announced his first title defense. Tsarukyan remains firm that he deserves the next shot at the lightweight championship.
