With UFC 317 Set, Arman Tsarukyan Open to ‘Big Name’ Paddy Pimblett Super Fight in Summer

Away from a UFC lightweight top-contender bout and UFC 317 approaching, Arman Tsarukyan likes the idea of fighting Paddy Pimblett next.

With UFC 317 Set, Arman Tsarukyan Open to ‘Big Name’ Paddy Pimblett Super Fight in Summer

With UFC 317 booked, next on Arman Tsarukyan's wish list is Paddy Pimblett (Source: X)

A dream once gone does not mean a dream that can’t be regained. That is the exact mentality Arman Tsarukyan is sporting ahead of making a return. UFC 317 was a prime spot he had in mind for a while. The Armenian UFC 155-pounder is eager to show he is still top crop in the game. For which, he has welcomed a hustle against the hungry Paddy Pimblett.

Arman Tsarukyan still perches as the #1 lightweight in the UFC Athletes Listings. However, given his UFC 311 PPV card pullout, the UFC boss advocated that he get back to the drawing board. ‘Ahalkalakets’ has acclimated to the decision and is willing to work to etch his name as a 155-pound top contender again. He had Charles Oliveira in mind; now he has veered to Paddy Pimblett:

He looked very good in his last fight, …Now we can say he can beat top-10 fighters. He’s No. 8 or something, and he’s not going to fight very soon. Maybe he wants to fight at the end of this year, but I want to fight this summer and the end of this year. I’ll take that …[fight]… because he has a big name, he just beat Michael Chandler. He’s never lost in the UFC…

Tsarukyan’s last-minute withdrawal from his UFC 311 PPV headliner challenge meant scouting the next best option. Arman Tsarukyan had pitched Justin Gaethje for UFC 317. ‘Do Bronx’ seemed a very logical option too, given that’s who he last defeated, and Oliveira wanted his rematch with Islam Makhachev. However, that ship has sailed. Oliveira now fights for the vacant gold on the UFC 317 PPV card on 28 June at the T-Mobile Arena, during IFW festivities.

Paddy Pimblett, on the other hand, is fresh off a third-round TKO beatdown of Michael Chandler at UFC 314. The current #8 UFC 155-pounder is a big draw for the English fan following and is currently beefing with Ilia Topuria, the other half of the IFW Showcasing PPV lightweight scrap.

However, the Scouser is keeping Gaethje and Topuria on his radar for now. While they have disputed before, this matchup needs more traction. Pimblett is a more fledgling name and also has some other options down the line to make his way up the ladder.

UFC’s Mateusz Gamrot expresses his disdain for lightweight Paddy Pimblett, labeling him as “arrogant”

Paddy Pimblett is on the cusp of title contention and is now catching strays more than ever. ‘The Baddy’ cracked top-15 after a SOTY-worthy finish over longtime veteran King Green. After UFC 314 PPV, he is presumably a fight or two away from proper contender status. However, not all are a fan of the traction he has been gaining.

UFC longstay gives brutal take on Paddy Pimblett
UFC longstay gives brutal take on Paddy Pimblett (Source: X)

Mateusz Gamrot, for one, is hardly a fan of the fellow UFC lightweight. A 7-3 UFC longstay, he mocked Baddy when the Liverpudlian was in tears seeing friend Molly McCann hang it up at UFC London. At the time, it seemed this was veiled as a chance to drive up a fight. On a recent appearance for “The Ariel Helwani Show“, Gamrot explained more why he doesn’t like him so much.

I don’t like this guy, …He talks too much. He’s arrogant from England. He has talked some things about me many times. I’d love to meet him in the octagon because his way to this position he has right now was so easy. If he gets a good opponent against him, I don’t think he wins this fight…If the UFC makes this fight, I think it’s going to be the biggest fight in the lightweight division for Europe. My opinion, he’s great stylistic [fight] for me…He’s a grappler, I am grappler.

A three-round bout between Gamrot and Ludovit Klein is scheduled for May 31 at UFC on ESPN 68, which will take place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Paddy Pimblett usually carries a lot of momentum and draws big names for scrappers. After UFC 314, that’s even more possible.

Names like Arman Tsarukyan, a chance to finally play out his history with Renato Moicano, Gaethje, or others might very well be next. However, a tilt in matchmaking might also occur with him needing to work through some of it to be a proper contender. Gamrot explained he made a lot of callouts before UFC 317, but it did not happen. Hence, he is willing to fight someone not ranked as top-5 to make his case for gold.

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