When UFC CEO Dana White announced that Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett would be fighting for the interim lightweight title in the UFC 324 main event, no one was more outraged than top lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan.
Champion Ilia Topuria announced that he’s taking a break from fighting while going through a divorce. According to top contender Arman Tsarukyan, the fight promotion had planned for Pimblett and Topuria to fight in January, but Topuria’s personal situation derailed the booking.
“I already knew Paddy was going to fight with Topuria in January, but I didn’t know they were going to do interim title versus Gaethje and Paddy. But I knew the UFC wants to do Ilia versus Paddy,” Tsarukyan told ESPN MMA.
Tsarukyan doesn’t believe Topuria’s personal issues have anything to do with the fight promotion’s decision to do an interim title bout. He believes it’s all part of the plan to market Pimblett.
“I think this is UFC game plan. It’s not like family issue or something. They want to make star of Paddy Pimblett and to bring him to fight for the title with Topuria. (He) has a bigger name and make it like a big fight,” Tsarukyan said.
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For Tsarukyan, the announcement of the interim title fight doesn’t change his goals. He still expects to become the world champion. His opportunity will just come later than desired.
“At the end of the day, I have the same goal,” Tsarukyan said. “They know, everyone knows that I’ll beat everybody. It’s just timing. It’s going to be in the summer, or whatever. But they know I could beat everybody. That’s why they didn’t give me title fight.”
“Paddy, for me, it’s easy work. Justin Gaethje, it’s easy work. Ilia, easy work,” he said. “It was hard work, Islam [Makhachev], but he left (the division), so nobody’s on my level on this division right now.”
“It’s a business. It’s not just a sport, so they can do whatever they want to do, but at the end of the day I’m going to be a champion. It’s just time. The beginning of the year, or the end of this year… I deserve to fight for the title.”
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