Arman Tsarukyan believes the UFC is trying to protect Paddy Pimblett from facing him.
Tsarukyan (23-3 MMA, 10-2 UFC) currently finds himself on the outside of the lightweight title picture. UFC President Dana White recently acknowledged during a recent Barstool Sports podcast appearance that the Armenian contender’s headbutt of Dan Hooker at the ceremonial weigh-ins ahead of UFC Qatar in November played a significant role in the promotion’s reluctance to trust him with high-profile opportunities.
While Tsarukyan, the No. 1-ranked contender at 155 pounds, waits for a chance to regain White’s confidence, Paddy Pimblett (22-3 MMA, 7-0 UFC) and Justin Gaethje (24-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC) are set to compete for the interim lightweight title in the main event of UFC 324 on January 24.
With reigning champion Ilia Topuria (17-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) currently on sabbatical to address personal matters, Pimblett and Gaethje appear to be the primary beneficiaries of “El Matador’s” absence. Tsarukyan, however, believes the UFC will continue to keep him away from “The Baddy” in order to protect the Liverpudlian and provide him with more favorable matchups.
"Everybody knows they're trying to keep Paddy Pimblett (away from me). They want to make him a champion," Tsarukyan said. "It's his chance, and they know if they put me against him, he's gonna lose and the star is gonna be gone. Gaethje is easy money for him, that's why they gave him even interim title (shot), because he's not gonna be even real champion. There is Ilia Topuria, and he can't beat even Ilia Topuria."
Despite being sidelined by the UFC, Tsarukyan has remained active in other disciplines. The 29-year-old has competed in a variety of professional grappling matches over the past year against the likes of Patricky Pitbull, Benson Henderson, and Shara Magomedov, and made his freestyle wrestling debut on Saturday, where he defeated former PFL champion and NCAA finalist Lance Palmer at RAF 5.
Tsarukyan plans to continue staying active while patiently waiting for his opportunity. He has also stated that he intends to travel to Las Vegas for UFC 324 later this month and weigh in as an alternate should either Pimblett or Gaethje withdraw from the main event.
"I'm a nightmare for (Pimblett), and he knows that if we're gonna fight, he's gonna lose," Tsarukyan said. "He's gonna try not to fight me his whole life."
