Former UFC lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez has given his thoughts on Arman Tsarukyan being overlooked for a world title shot.
At UFC Qatar, Arman Tsarukyan picked up a big win as he dominated and defeated Dan Hooker and re-established himself as one to watch in the UFC’s lightweight division. Some even believed it was enough to earn him a world title shot, but at the moment it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen.
UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria is about to take a short break due to some personal issues and that is why the UFC has opted to book an interim title fight at UFC 324 – between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett. Arman Tsarukyan, meanwhile, had previously said he would be willing to turn around and fight again in January, but it clearly won’t yield results.
In a recent podcast appearance, Eddie Alvarez gave his thoughts on the Arman Tsarukyan drama.
Eddie Alvarez’s take on Arman Tsarukyan’s title shot
“I think UFC will just continue to use Arman to fill cards,” Alvarez told MMA Junkie. “And that’s your fault. It’s your responsibility to go out and do something that fans want to see, like what fans get excited about. I remember when I fought Anthony Pettis, I sat in the back and asked for a title shot. He was a jerk, Joe Silva, I was so mad at him.”
“He embarrassed me in front of all his friends. He says, ‘Yeah, if you fight like that, you’ll never get a title fight.’ I was so pissed because he embarrassed me in front of so many people, but he was right too.
“If you look back, he was kind of right. I won the fight, but no one cares if you win the fight. Your family cares. That’s all. The fans want to see something special, something incredible. They want to see excitement, blood, guts and you have to give the customer what he wants.”
“So if you’re not getting the fights you want, you’re not going to get moved up the division in the way you want. You may have to adjust your style. You can be a ground guy and be exciting. Khabib was very exciting when he was taking people down and knocking them down and pounding them. He was always trying to get a finish.”
“Arman has Benny (Dariush), Charles (Oliveira), Hooker and the kid (Joel) Alvarez so far, but these aren’t names like Oliveira, Gaethje and these other guys at the top of the division have on their resume,” Alvarez said. “And the way Gaethje is killing them versus the way you’re just winning, who are you feuding with, you know?”
Quotes via MMA junkie
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