"He dug his own grave" - Paddy Pimblett slams Arman Tsarukyan, claims the Armenian cannot buy his way into a title shot

Paddy Pimblett fired fresh shots at Arman Tsarukyan after the top-ranked contender voiced his frustration over being passed over in the current title shuffle. In Pimblett’s view, Tsarukyan put himself in the position by pulling out when opportunity presented itself.

Speaking in an interview with Carlos Legaspi, Pimblett said:

"Arman is an idiot. He just talks a big game, and he’s shit. He dug his own grave and pulled out of a title fight. He thinks that because his dad’s a millionaire, he can pay his way into things like this. It doesn’t work like that with the UFC. Sit down, shut up, and do what you’re told."

Check out Paddy Pimblett's comments below:

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As for the lightweight title picture, Ilia Topuria holds the undisputed lightweight championship after his first-round knockout win against Charles Oliveira at UFC 317. With Topuria expected to take time off and return later in 2026, the UFC moved quickly to keep the division active by announcing an interim title fight.

Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett will meet in the main event of UFC 324 in January, with the winner positioned as the clear next challenger once the champion returns.

Tsarukyan remains the top-ranked lightweight and is riding a strong winning streak that includes victories over Charles Oliveira and Dan Hooker. Despite that momentum, UFC officials have indicated that he must fight again to reestablish his claim.

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Islam Makhachev weighs in on Paddy Pimblett getting a title shot over Arman Tsarukyan

Islam Makhachev has pushed back against the UFC’s decision to delay Arman Tsarukyan’s return to the lightweight title picture. The issue resurfaced after the promotion booked Justin Gaethje against Paddy Pimblett for the interim belt at UFC 324.

With Ilia Topuria sidelined until later in 2026, the winner is expected to face the undisputed champion next. That leaves Tsarukyan waiting despite a strong submission win over Dan Hooker in November.

Speaking in a recent interview with Red Corner MMA, Makhachev said:

"The organization may not like it, but they make more and more fights that I don’t understand. Of course, I think Arman should have gotten the title shot. Let’s be honest, Arman is not going to fight anytime soon. It’s Pimblett vs. Gaethje, whoever wins, he gets a shot at Topuria. Meaning one more year of layoff for Arman, and it’s tough. Although I’ve had the same period in my career, I had ten fights before getting the title shot. So Arman should probably wait a bit and be patient.”

Edited by Abhishek Nambiar