“Gift Opportunities”: Arman Tsarukyan Addresses Paddy Pimblett and UFC Matchmaking After Losing to Gaethje at UFC 324

Arman Tsarukyan has gone on the offensive after UFC 324, accusing Paddy Pimblett and the UFC of trying to win a title through “gifted opportunities” following Pimblett’s lopsided loss to Justin Gaethje in Las Vegas. Gaethje defeated Pimblett by unanimous decision over five rounds to claim the interim lightweight belt at UFC 324 main event at the T-Mobile Arena, handing the Liverpoolan his first defeat in the promotion.

“Fake Rankings”: Arman Tsarukyan launches into UFC for taking Paddy Pimblett to the next level after UFC 324

Gaethje dropped Pimblett several times and outwitted him on the scorecards, winning 48-47, 49-46, 49-46. Official statistics show that Gaethje scored a total of 200 strikes to Pimblett’s 170, including 144 significant strikes and three successful takedowns, while Pimblett went 0-for-5 on his own takedown attempts. UFC president Dana White later said that Pimblett’s stand-and-deal approach with Gaethje instead of leaning into his wrestling was a poor game plan, even as he praised his toughness and confirmed that he was sent to the hospital for precautionary checks after the damage he suffered.

Tsarukyan, the division’s No. 1 prospect, fired his first shot at On Threads and other platforms, he went further, claiming that “Justin definitely has a staph infection” and mocking Pimblett, saying: “This clown couldn’t beat Gaethje on antibiotics,” before congratulating Gaethje on his “heart” and insisting the American would accept a fight with him.

The outburst is the latest chapter in a simmering feud. In the post-fight media after UFC 324, Tsarukyan labeled Pimblett as “trash” and argued that Pimblett is “not a top fighter,” saying Gaethje would not have been as successful against himself or the champion. Ilia Topuria. He questioned Pimblett’s durability and conditioning, claiming that Pimblett was “taken down 15 or 20 times” and suggesting that Gaethje could have finished him repeatedly but chose to take a decision instead.

Beneath the insults lies a genuine complaint about matchmaking. Tsarukyan is 23-3 and is riding a strong streak, including a submission win over Dan Hooker at UFC Qatar after a split-decision win over former champion Charles Oliveira in 2024. He was previously booked to challenge then-champion Islam Makhachev before withdrawing with a back injury, and later served as a backup for Ilia Topuria’s vacant title fight with Oliveira. When Topuria withdrew from competition in early 2026 due to personal and legal issues, the UFC filled the void with an interim title fight between Gaethje and Pimblett, leaving the top contender on the sidelines.

From Tsarukyan’s perspective, Pimblett jumped ahead on name value. Pimblett entered UFC 324 finishing in fifth place at lightweight, undefeated in seven UFC fights and coming away with a win in the break Michael Chandler who boosted his profile. White had repeatedly highlighted Pimblett’s ability to “find a way to win” and even compared his trajectory to that of Conor McGregor, highlighting his appeal heading into the Gaethje fight. That promotional focus is exactly what Tsarukyan calls “fake rankings” and “gifted opportunities.”

There is also clear evidence that the UFC has cooled Tsarukyan. His headbutt on Hooker at the UFC Qatar’s ceremonial weigh-in drew criticism, and White later confirmed that this incident, combined with previous issues surrounding his withdrawal from the Makhachev fight, played a role in the decision to pass him over for the interim title. That background explains why Tsarukyan says he’s in the promotion’s “doghouse” even though he’s at the top of the rankings.