Paddy Pimblett shouldn’t get the next title shot, or even be in the rankings, according to fellow UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan.
After Ilia Topuria won the lightweight title by knocking out Charles Oliveira at UFC 317, Pimblett (23-3 MMA, 7-0 UFC) entered the cage for an intense faceoff. The interaction has led many to believe Pimblett will jump the queue in the lightweight division to get the next title shot, given the bad blood between him and Topuria. Tsarukyan (22-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) believes the next shot is his, and doesn’t believe the moment in the cage will change that.
“Nobody said he’s getting the title shot,” Tsarukyan said on “Overdogs Podcast.” “So, they are still figuring out who’s fighting for the title – me, (Justin) Gaethje, or Paddy. But I know they got to put me because I’m the No. 1 contender right now.”
Tsarukyan is currently ranked No. 2 in the promotion’s official lightweight rankings. The No. 1 spot is held by Islam Makhachev, who recently vacated the title and is expected to fight Jack Della Maddalena for the welterweight title soon.
While making a case for his own shot at the title, Tsarukyan torched Pimblett’s UFC resume and doesn’t even view him as a top-ranked fighter.
“You gotta delete him from the rankings, even,” Tsarukyan said. “He’s not even deserving to be in top 10.”
Tsarukyan went down the list of recent names that Pimblett has faced, criticizing the strength of schedule.
“He beat the last three guys, it was (Michael) Chandler, he had three losses,” Tsarukyan said. “It was Bobby Green, he had three, four losses. It was Tony Ferguson, he had eight losses. That’s crazy, and like, you want to bring that guy and fight for the title? I don’t know. You shouldn’t even mention his name, you know? He doesn’t even deserve even mentioning his name.”
Pimblett’s last three opponents have a combined UFC record of 30-26-1, while Tsarukyan’s last three, Charles Oliveira, Beneil Dariush, and Joaquim Silva, are 46-22-1. To Tsarukyan’s point, Pimblett’s recent opposition experienced rough stretches before he fought them. Chandler was 1-4 over his previous five, Green fared better at 3-2, but Ferguson was on a six-fight skid, which extended to eight before his exit from the UFC.
Tsarukyan was set to challenge Islam Makhachev for the lightweight title at UFC 311 in January, but withdrew during fight week due to an injury. Topuria recently stated he would vacate the title before facing Tsarukyan.
