Dan Hooker thinks Paddy Pimblett getting the next UFC title shot would be ridiculous – but not surprising.
UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria (17-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) ruled out Arman Tsarukyan from the title conversation, and thinks he’ll be offered either Pimblett (22-4 MMA, 7-0 UFC) or Justin Gaethje for his first title defense.
When Topuria knocked out Charles Oliveira to claim the vacant 155-pound title at UFC 317, it was Pimblett who got to face off with him in the octagon, even though Gaethje and Tsarukyan (22-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) were also in attendance. That’s why Hooker wouldn’t be surprised if Pimblett wound up getting the title shot.
“The funny thing is, they might actually do Paddy, which is an absolute piss take where he fights (Michael) Chandler and then gets a title shot – is like an absolute piss take,” Hooker told Sky Sports New Zealand. “But who cares, at the end of the day? He’s not going to hold the belt for very long. If you were in Ilia’s shoes, logically, he should be fighting Arman (Tsarukyan). But he’s not going to because Arman’s a really tough fight.
“If I’m sitting there with the title, and I’m getting pay-per-view points and I have to fight Arman Tsarukyan, Justin Gaethje or Paddy Pimblett, I would take the hardest guy. But if you’re smart, you take Paddy Pimblett. You’re going to get the most money because there’s a lot of animosity. You’re going to get the most money and the worst fighter, so it’s a win-win situation for Ilia Topuria.”
As for Hooker (24-12 MMA, 14-8 UFC), he’s willing to take on Tsarukyan next – a fight he believes most of the top contenders don’t want any part of.
