Paddy Pimblett has no sympathy for Arman Tsarukyan‘s current standing with Dana White and the UFC.
Tsarukyan was the odd man out in the upcoming interim lightweight title fight, which was created after champion Ilia Topuria announced he needed to take some personal time off. As a result, Pimblett (23-3 MMA, 7-0 UFC) will meet Gaethje (26-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC) for the interim belt on Jan. 24 at UFC 324, with the winner expected to unify against Topuria.
Advertisement
Tsarukyan (23-3 MMA, 10-2 UFC) is the No. 1-ranked UFC lightweight, but that didn’t matter to Dana White. Pimblett said everything that’s happening to Tsarukyan is of his own doing.
“Arman is an absolute idiot,” Pimblett told ESPN Deportes (h/t Red Corner MMA). “Ilia’s the man, so Ilia’s who I’m going to fight. Arman just talks a big game, and he’s sh*t. Arman’s made his own bed, and he can lie in it. He dug his own grave and pulled out of a title fight the night before, punched a fan on his walkout, head-butted someone at a weigh-in. He beat Dan Hooker – I like Dan Hooker, but he can’t grapple to save his life.
“He beat (Beneil) Dariush, who looks about 65 years of age, and he beat Charles Oliveira, but I thought Charles Oliveira won that fight, so did a lot of people. He hasn’t done that much himself to deserve this. He thinks that because his dad’s a millionaire that he can pay his way into things like this. It doesn’t work like that with the UFC. Sit down, shut up, and do as you’re told.”
More: Dana White: Arman Tsarukyan knows ‘man sh*t’ is reason for UFC title snub
Pimblett put his bad blood with Topuria (17-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) aside when addressing the champion taking some time off. Prior to Topuria announcing that it will be an extended period, Pimblett had an inkling more could be at stake vs. Gaethje.
Advertisement
“He’s got a lot going on in his personal life, and I wish him nothing but the best,” Pimblett said of Topuria. “That has got nothing to do with me and him fighting. That’s his family, and I hope everything goes well. I hope that goes perfect for him. All I care about is getting him in that octagon and fighting him. Anything in his personal life, I hope it goes well. But you never know: If he doesn’t come back by June, July, then he might have to vacate his belt, and I’ll become undisputed champ without even fighting.”
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Paddy Pimblett slams ‘idiot’ Arman Tsarukyan: ‘He dug his own grave’
