Arman Tsarukyan Wants Justin Gaethje to Retire for Paddy Pimblett Superfight to Materialize

Armenian superstar Arman Tsarukyan suggests Justin Gaethje to hang up the gloves so he can take on Paddy Pimblett.

Arman Tsarukyan Wants Justin Gaethje to Retire for Paddy Pimblett Superfight to Materialize

Arman Tsarukyan wants Justin Gaethje to vacate title (via Instagram)

Arman Tsarukyan has remained vocal about wanting a UFC lightweight title shot as soon as possible for a long time. However, the Armenian star has missed opportunities and has also been overlooked by top UFC officials. Tsarukyan is now looking to carve his own path toward a potential superfight with Paddy Pimblett. As such, he wants to fight for undisputed gold and has a stipulation for current champion Justin Gaethje.

Gaethje won the interim lightweight title at UFC 324 after defeating Pimblett via unanimous decision. The American veteran produced a punishing performance and secured the interim championship with a dominant showing. He later competed at UFC Freedom 250, where he handed Ilia Topuria his first career loss. The victory allowed Gaethje to capture the undisputed lightweight title and become the division’s champion.

Despite winning the lightweight title, there have been growing doubts about Gaethje’s future in the UFC. Rumors have suggested the reigning champion could retire soon, although nothing remains confirmed. ‘The Highlight’ is yet to make a final decision on his fighting future. Tsarukyan recently called for Gaethje to retire so he and Pimblett could compete for the vacant lightweight title, despite the potential impact on the UFC.

My opinion is he should retire. He should vacate the title. (I’d fight) Paddy (for the vacant title). It’s a nightmare for the UFC but it’s okay.

Arman Tsarukyan via Helen Yee Sports

Speculation surrounding Gaethje’s future has intensified following his lightweight title victory at UFC Freedom 250. US Vice President JD Vance recently claimed a conversation with Gaethje’s mother fueled retirement rumors. However, the champion has not made any official announcement.

Tsarukyan has remained at odds with Gaethje, especially after UFC Freedom 250. The Armenian contender wanted to gift Gaethje a truck after winning a $1 million bet on the American defeating Topuria. However, Gaethje rejected the offer, further fueling Tsarukyan’s frustration and intensifying their rivalry.

Pimblett has also called out Tsarukyan amid their pursuit of the lightweight title. The Liverpudlian contender criticized Tsarukyan’s inactivity in the UFC. Interestingly, Pimblett acknowledged him as the top contender but argued he did not deserve that status after fighting only once in the last three years.

Pimblett also recently returned to the win column with a dominant showing at UFC 329. The Liverpool native submitted Benoit Saint Denis in the first round after controlling the fight from the opening exchanges. The victory strengthened Pimblett’s case for another high-profile lightweight matchup.

Arman Tsarukyan has often viewed Paddy Pimblett as a favorable matchup and questioned the English contender’s ground game. The Armenian remains confident about beating Pimblett if they eventually meet. It remains to be seen whether Justin Gaethje vacates the title, opening the door for them to fight for the vacant belt.

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Dana White finally recognizes Arman Tsarukyan’s activity

Dana White and Arman Tsarukyan have not always seen eye to eye during the Armenian contender’s UFC career. The UFC CEO has repeatedly denied Tsarukyan a lightweight title shot because of his behavioral and disciplinary issues. However, White has now made a notable assessment about Tsarukyan’s status.

Tsarukyan’s problems with the UFC first escalated when he punched a fan during his UFC 300 walkout. That was followed by his last-minute withdrawal from a scheduled UFC 311 title fight against Islam Makhachev. The final setback came when Tsarukyan headbutted Dan Hooker during UFC Qatar fight week.

Arman Tsarukyan calls out UFC and Dana White
Arman Tsarukyan calls out UFC and Dana White (via HITC)

Despite those setbacks, Tsarukyan has grown into a major fan favorite through streams with N3on and Nina Drama. His rising popularity also earned him the backup role for the UFC Freedom 250 lightweight title fight. Dana White recently included the Armenian contender while naming the UFC’s top five current stars.

Absolutely. Arman is definitely in there. The guy has done an incredible job of getting attention. And a lot of Nina Drama.

Dana White via Spinnin Backfist

A major part of Arman Tsarukyan’s rising popularity has also come through his RAF appearances in 2026. The Armenian star competed under the banner every month and built a seven-fight win streak. However, his run was recently stopped by Colby Covington at RAF 11.

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