Daniel Cormier thinks there’s more to the story behind Arman Tsarukyan‘s UFC title snub.
When the promotion opted to match up Justin Gaethje (26-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC) and Paddy Pimblett (22-4 MMA, 7-0 UFC) for the interim lightweight title in the UFC 324 main event on Jan. 24, the announcement took many by surprise. Tsarukyan (23-3 MMA, 10-2 UFC) is the No. 1 ranked lightweight, but now, according to Dana White, he has to wait for the winner of Gaethje vs. Pimblett to unify with champion Ilia Topuria once he returns from his time off.
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“This guy might just be the best lightweight in the world,” Cormier told Red Corner MMA of Tsarukyan. “Since Islam’s gone, he’s really good. He’s big, he’s strong, he’s physical. The champion, Ilia Topuria, is tremendous. I think Ilia and Arman are the two best guys in the world.
“I think they need to fight at some point. Paddy Pimblett is awesome. Justin Gaethje’s awesome. Arman and Ilia seem to have something and not only something in terms of skill, but between the two we can build a great fight around. I think Arman’s fantastic. He’s good. He looked great against Dan Hooker, too.”
Tsarukyan has been in hot water with the UFC ever since withdrawing just one day prior to his title fight against Islam Makhachev last January. He also threw a punch at a fan during his walkout for his fight against Charles Oliveira at UFC 300 in April 2024, which resulted in a $25,000 fine and a nine-month suspension by the Nevada Athletic Commission. Finally, the 29-year-old head-butted Dan Hooker during their weigh-ins for UFC Fight Night 265 in November, which risked jeopardizing their fight.
Regardless of all that, Cormier expected Tsarukyan to be a lot more vocal about being left out of the title picture.
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“I don’t know why Arman’s not fighting for a title. I really don’t,” Cormier said. “I’ve heard the reason because of what happened in Los Angeles (UFC 311). I thought that by weighing in as the backup fighter when Ilia fought Charles (Oliveira) and by going and fighting Dan Hooker, it would be OK. I don’t know.
“I don’t know what the conversations that they’re having behind closed doors are because they’re telling him something that’s making him OK with it, right? Because if he wasn’t OK with it, he would be more loud about him not getting his opportunity. I kind of defer to they know more than we do, and so we’ve got to kind of accept it for what it is because it seems like Arman is doing that, too.”
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC analyst surprised by Arman Tsaukyan’s reaction to title snub
