UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan envisions his path back to a title shot going through Paddy Pimblett.
This comes after the Armenian contender had his championship hopes in Los Angeles dashed at the start of 2025.
Tsarukyan pulled out from UFC 311 on short notice, forcing the promotion to scramble for a new opponent for champion Islam Makhachev. A back injury sustained during the weight cut was cited as the reason for the challenger’s withdrawal.
Dana White took away Tsarukyan’s status as top 155-pound contender as a result, meaning ‘Akhalkalakets’ has more work to do before earning another shot.
That hasn’t fazed the 28-year-old, who has since been looking for his next assignment.
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Arman Tsarukyan wants to gain more UK fans by fighting Paddy Pimblett
After callouts of Charles Oliveira and Justin Gaethje fell on deaf ears, Tsarukyan recently turned his attention to a surging figure lower down the rankings.
Pimblett dominated Michael Chandler at UFC 314 to break into lightweight title contention. And with ‘The Baddy’ yet to have his next fight added to the calendar, Tsarukyan has pitched a showdown.
Following a war of words on social media in April, the No. 1-ranked contender cited a desire to grow his UK fanbase as the reason for wanting to fight Pimblett during a recent interview with Red Corner MMA.
“Maybe he wants to fight at the end of this year, but I want to fight this summer and the end of this year,” Tsarukyan said.
“I’ll take that because he has a big name, he just beat Michael Chandler, and he has a six or seven [fight] win streak.
“He’s never lost in the UFC. It makes sense to get back and to get more fans from the UK,” Tsarukyan added.
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Arman Tsarukyan insulted Paddy Pimblett with ‘budget Beatles’ dig
Talk of Tsarukyan and Pimblett fighting had already risen this year after the pair exchanged words ahead of the latter’s triumph in Miami.
After ‘The Baddy’ branded him a “posh boy” during an episode of the Full Send Podcast, the Armenian lightweight hit back on X with shots at Pimblett’s strength of competition, accent, and hairstyle.
“Says the guy who got the easiest path to the top in UFC just because he’s got a funny accent and budget Beatles haircut,” Tsarukyan wrote. “I dare you to call me out if you win and we will see who will s—t his pants in the octagon when we meet clown.”
With that, the groundwork has certainly been laid for a fiery feud between the pair that could reach the Octagon soon enough.
Whether that’s next or further down the line, however, remains to be seen.