Arman Tsarukyan says Paddy Pimblett was "pushed up the rankings artificially" and his title shot against Justin Gaethje at UFC 324 was "completely undeserved".
Arman Tsarukyan says Paddy Pimblett was "pushed up the rankings artificially" and his title shot against Justin Gaethje at UFC 324 was "completely undeserved".
Liverpool's Pimblett suffered a heartbreaking defeat against Gaethje in Las Vegas on Saturday as he missed out on the interim lightweight title in an action-packed bout.
Armenia's Tsarukyan is first in the UFC's lightweight rankings but UFC president Dana White says he was overlooked for the title bout in favour of Pimblett and Gaethje.
Pimblett went into the fight at the T-Mobile Arena fifth in the rankings, while American Gaethje was fourth.
"That's what happens when you're gifted opportunities and pushed up the rankings artificially, a completely undeserved title shot for Paddy," Tsarukyan wrote on X.
"Congratulations to Justin. He showed real heart, and unlike others he'll step up and take the fight with me. Respect."
Tsarukyan, 29, was set to face former champion Islam Makhachev for the lightweight last January but pulled out of the fight one day before with injury.
He has not been scheduled for a title fight since by UFC matchmakers, despite beating Dan Hooker in November to extend his winning streak to five.
The interim bout between Pimblett and Gaethje was set up after champion Ilia Topuria said he would not be fighting early in 2026 while he deals with personal issues following his divorce.
Following the bout, Topuria told Pimblett he has missed out on the "biggest paycheck" of his life in failing to set up a unification fight.
"Little sausage, the only thing you had to do was beat a 37-year-old guy. You just lost the biggest paycheck of your life," Topuria wrote on X.
"You were going to get rich if you won. Justin, all I can say is congratulations… and I'd like to tell you to get ready, but you're screwed no matter what."
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Pimblett was chosen for the bout alongside Gaethje, having won his first seven fights in the UFC and beating Michael Chandler in convincing fashion in April.
But some pundits argued Pimblett was handed the opportunity due to his popularity rather than his work in the octagon, with the 31-year-old holding no wins over any current top-10 fighters.
Despite suffering defeat by Gaethje, Pimblett answered many of his critics with a brave and gutsy display, showing he belongs among the division's elite.
UFC president White described Pimblett as "absolutely" one of the best in the division, but criticised his game plan against Gaethje.
"Pimblett's tough, he's durable, especially against Gaethje. It's one thing to come out and say 'I believe in my durability and my chin and I'm going to go toe to toe with this guy'. But when it starts to not work, at some point you've got to say 'you know what, I might try to take him down and submit him here'."
In victory, Gaethje, 37, became the first two-time interim champion in UFC history and the oldest fighter to ever win a lightweight belt in the promotion.
Former lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, who beat Gaethje in 2020, praised his performance on X.
He said: "Justin Gaethje absolute legend, my congratulations. What a fight. And don't forget Justin is almost 38 years old."
Dustin Poirier, who beat Gaethje in 2018 but lost to him in 2023, added: "Welcome to the big leagues Patrick. One up for the legends."
Former flyweight and bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo described the contest with Pimblett as "one of the greatest fights of all-time".
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