Paddy Pimblett has taken direct aim at Arman Tsarukyan’s status in the lightweight title picture, bluntly dismissing the Armenian contender’s credentials.
Speaking ahead of his next assignment, Pimblett made it clear he doesn’t buy Tsarukyan as a true No. 1 contender. “Arman Tsarukyan is a posh boy helmet,” Pimblett said, launching into a harsh critique of the lightweight.
“I'm not a big fan of his at all. I think he's a f*cking idiot. He's had everything handed to him on a plate his whole life, so he thinks the UFC should do the same to him. I don't even think he deserves the next title shot, lad. He's beaten Dan Hooker in the past three years. He's a great athlete. He couldn't beat (Mateusz) Gamrot. Last year, he got offered that rematch and said no.”
Pimblett continued to question Tsarukyan’s choices and opposition, referencing his submission win over Dan Hooker at UFC Fight Night 265 in November. “Imagine getting offered a rematch against someone who's beat you, and you said no. Now that is a b*tch. That is a b*tch right there. Arman would have been closer to a title shot beating Gamrot than beating Dan Hooker. Dan Hooker's a bum, lad. Dan Hooker's a proper bum. Dan Hooker can't fight to save his life, lad. I don't understand how he's even still in the top 10. Michael Chandler knocked him out, and Michael Chandler's not in the top 15 anymore.”
Pimblett, 23-4 MMA and 7-1 UFC, is scheduled to face Benoit Saint Denis in the UFC 329 co-headliner on July 11 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. He is coming off an interim title loss to Justin Gaethje at UFC 324, while Gaethje, 28-5 MMA and 11-5 UFC, recently dethroned Ilia Topuria at UFC Freedom 250. Tsarukyan holds a 23-3 MMA and 10-2 UFC record.
