Paddy Pimblett has big plans for his next fight – and they don’t involve Arman Tsarukyan.
Tsarukyan fought his way to a no. 1 candidate and a rematch with the Islam Makhachev for the lightweight title on UFC 311 last January, but everything came down to Tsarukyan when a back injury forced him a day before fighting evening. Now Makhachev has moved to Welterweight, his empty belt was captured by Ilia Topuria and Tsarukyan is uncertain.
Based on a 7-0 UFC record and having a long-term rivalry with Topuria, Pimblett seems to be the first to challenge Topuria. If Pimblett was fighting again, he looks at fan favorite Justin Gaethje instead of dealing with Tsarukyan.
“I would fight someone as you know, I am not organized,” Pimblett said on the One on one Show. “Arman is a very good hunter, but nobody cares about him, you know what I mean? People just look at him and think:” Yes, you are sorry to Islam. You talk a big game, but you don’t support it. “
“But everyone knows Justin Gaethje’s off*cking Banger. Everyone knows that if you fight Justin Gaethje, you are going to fight. And he is a legend. Arman is not. So I would like to fight another legend in Justin Gaethje.”
Unfortunately for Pimblett, Gaethje is not so intrigued by their potential matchup, and recently tells ESPN: “If that is the route [the UFC] I want me to take, then I don’t believe they need me more. ‘Gaethje recently beat Rafael Fiziev to pick up his third victory in his last four fights and he believes that his overall work deserves the consideration for a shot on Topuria.
Pimblett also still looks at Topuria, not only because of their feud, but because he believes that this is now best for business.
“Now that Jon Jones is retired, I think the biggest fight that the UFC can make, I would be vs. Ilia,” Pimblett said. “Now there is no Jon Jones and they can’t do him vs. Tom [Aspinall]. It would not surprise me if I had the belt in six to 12 months. “
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