A potential future showdown might be brewing between lightweight fighters Paddy Pimblett and Arman Tsarukyan.
Pimblett is set to face Michael Chandler this Saturday in the co-main event of UFC 314, a significant fight that could propel him into the lightweight Top 10 rankings. It seems Pimblett already has his sights set on the top of the division, taking aim at current No. 1 ranked Arman Tsarukyan.
In a recent appearance on the Full Send podcast, Pimblett disparaged Tsarukyan, suggesting that the “old guard” of the lightweight division is fading out, and the future Top 10 will look very different. He claimed Tsarukyan is one of the few under 35 in the current top ranks but dismissed him as a privileged and weak fighter, using derogatory terms.
Pimblett also referenced Dana White`s comments about Tsarukyan needing to “go back to the drawing board” after withdrawing from a title fight against Islam Makhachev. He further mocked Tsarukyan in crude terms.
Tsarukyan was indeed scheduled to fight Makhachev for the lightweight title at UFC 311 in January but withdrew shortly before the event. Dana White publicly stated that Tsarukyan would need to re-earn his title shot. Now, after hearing Pimblett`s insults, Tsarukyan has responded, suggesting he is ready to face Pimblett if he defeats Chandler, and promising to show Pimblett who is truly weak in the octagon. He mocked Pimblett`s easy path to UFC fame, attributing it to his accent and hairstyle, and challenged Pimblett to a fight.
UFC 314, headlined by Alexander Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes for the vacant featherweight title, is scheduled for this Saturday at the Kaseya Center in Miami.
