Arman Tsarukyan wasn't too impressed by the UFC 324 main event between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett.
Arman Tsarukyan isn't losing any confidence after watching the war between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett at UFC 324.
In the end, Gaethje was crowned the new UFC interim lightweight champion, lining himself up as the next challenger for champion Ilia Topuria. The interim bout materialized as a surprise after Topuria announced his hiatus from MMA to handle personal issues. When the champion made his announcement, it was around the same time Tsarukyan returned to pick up a dominant win over Dan Hooker. As the No. 1-ranked UFC lightweight contender, Tsarukyan felt like an obvious half to the would-be interim title tilt; instead he became the odd man out, left to watch UFC 324 alongside the rest of the world.
Although Gaethje entered the bout as an underdog to Pimblett, Tsarukyan had complete faith in the all-action legend, who collected yet another Fight of the Night bonus in his unanimous decision effort. Yet Tsarukyan also saw plenty of holes to exploit in potential matchups with either UFC 324 headliner, as he explained during Saturday's Paramount+ post-fight show.
"I told everybody Justin was going to win by decision," Tsarukyan said. "I didn't understand [Pimblett's game plan]. He wanted to box with Gaethje, but he couldn't wrestle him, he couldn't box him. He's just a little bit young and has a bad chin. He's a trash can.
"Pimblett let him [put the pace on]. Paddy's not a tough, top fighter. If it was me or Ilia, Justin couldn't fight like that. If I fight with Justin, I will choke him out in the second round. He has no chin. So when Paddy clipped him a little bit, he was bobbling right away. His cardio is not that good, too. ... He's just not in his prime anymore. Justin three, four years ago, he was different. Now it's like he's getting old."
Tsarukyan hasn't exactly been friendly with his fellow lightweight contenders. Even during UFC 324 fight week, Tsarukyan and Pimblett verbally sparred throughout their various media appearances.
Pimblett's loss to Gaethje is the Englishman's first setback in the UFC after winning seven straight. Despite Pimblett showing heaps of toughness compared to most who stand across from Gaethje, Tsarukyan believes "The Baddy" could have been finished throughout the 25-minute affair.
"Paddy got knocked down like 15, 20 times," Tsarukyan said. "Justin cannot wrestle, and I don't know, maybe he just didn't want to finish him. I don't know why. He could, maybe 10 times. Maybe his game plan was like that to win by decision, but he dropped him and stayed waiting when [Pimblett] stood up, so I don't know."
Topuria recently said on social media that he hopes to return to action in April or June. With an interim title now in play, UFC CEO Dana White already confirmed Gaethje as the division's next challenger.
Another non-title fight, however, doesn't make much sense for the surging Tsarukyan at this point, so he's willing to wait as long as it takes to get his title shot.
"I want to fight with Justin because he's the interim [champion], and if Ilia can fight this year, they've gotta fight together. But if [Topuria] cannot fight in June or April, I would like to fight Gaethje," Tsarukyan said.
"I got the opportunity [to fight for the title] last year, but couldn't fight, so I've gotta wait and they're going to give me that title too."
Tsarukyan also offered a prediction for the lightweight division's future, which started with him battling Gaethje — not because of timing, but because he predicts Topuria will abandon lightweight to instead pursue the division's former champion, current UFC welterweight titleholder Islam Makhachev.
Category: General Sports
