Alan Jouban isn’t fiending for Ilia Topuria vs. Paddy Pimblett like most.
Pimblett (22-4 MMA, 7-0 UFC) is adamant that a fight against UFC lightweight champion Topuria (17-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) is the biggest matchup the promotion could make, and many pundits agree.
However, Jouban explains why he disagrees with that notion, and why he’d rather see Arman Tsarukyan (22-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) get the title shot instead.
“I need to see Arman Tsarukyan get this opportunity,” Jouban told MMA Junkie. “I think that’s the toughest fight for Ilia Topuria. There’s a lot of talk about ‘Paddy The Baddy,’ but for me, it’s jumping the line. He’s a star, and I’ve heard others say it’s the biggest fight you can make. I don’t agree. Paddy is a star for where he’s at, and internationally he’s known.
“I hate to be so much by the numbers, but this is a guy with about 4.5 million followers. Compared to Islam Makhachev or someone like that, I think there’s much bigger fights in the UFC. I don’t think it’s the biggest fight you can make. So why, if it’s not the biggest fight, would he now jump the line over other guys like Justin Gaethje and Arman Tsarukyan?”
Like Pimblett, Tsarukyan and Justin Gaethje were also in attendance for Topuria’s title-winning knockout over Charles Oliveira at UFC 317. Gaethje threatened to retire if he doesn’t get the next shot, but Jouban says that’s not the fight to make.
“As much as Gaethje is a legend, that’s not the fight I want to see, personally,” Jouban said. “If he’s given it, there’s nothing wrong with it. It’s a fantastic fight. But Arman Tsarukyan, when Islam was the champ, I thought that was the toughest fight for him. With Ilia the champ, I think Arman Tsarukyan is again the toughest matchup in the division for him.
“That’s the fight I want to see. If Ilia is able to get past him, then I think you make the fight with Islam Makhachev. Obviously (Makhachev has) got to get past Jack Della Maddalena in the welterweight division, and I’m not sure that’s going to be an easy fight at all.”
Although Pimblett was the one to face off with Topuria in the octagon after UFC 317, Dana White saying that wasn’t the plan makes Jouban question the possibility of the matchup.
“When Dana said they didn’t want him in the cage that night, it makes you think that’s not the fight they want right now, and that’s not the fight they’re thinking about,” Jouban said. “It was kind of a tell, kind of a sign that Paddy is not on the board right now for that matchup.”
