Arman Tsarukyan Blindsided as UFC Books Pimblett–Gaethje Interim Title Fight: 'Nobody on My Level'

“Paddy, easy work. Justin, easy work. Ilia, easy work.”

Tsarukyan didn’t sugarcoat how he feels about the lightweight hierarchy or the UFC’s decision.

With champion Ilia Topuria sidelined due to ongoing personal issues, Tsarukyan naturally assumed he would participate in any interim title fight. Instead, the promotion skipped him entirely.

He believes the UFC is playing the long game.

“This is the UFC’s game plan,” he said. “They want to make Paddy a star, to fight Topuria later. They want a big fight. Like Khabib vs. Conor — but they’re not even on that level if Paddy gets the belt.”

And the Armenian phenom insists the reason he’s not included is simple:

“Everybody knows I beat everybody. That’s why they didn’t give me a title fight.

Paddy, easy work.
Justin, easy work.
Ilia, easy work.
Islam was hard work but he left.”

The confidence isn’t arrogance it’s backed by results. Tsarukyan has beaten contender after contender, with his only recent loss coming in a razor-close classic against Islam Makhachev, the former lightweight king now reigning at welterweight.

Marketing Over Merit?

The Pimblett–Topuria rivalry has simmered for years, and Tsarukyan suspects the UFC always intended to move toward that fight with or without a belt.

Topuria and Pimblett are two of the promotion’s most bankable stars. A title fight between them would be massive … but only if Pimblett holds a belt.

Which raises the question: Was the interim championship built specifically for Pimblett?

Tsarukyan thinks so. “A bullsh*t guy like Paddy beats the No. 12 guy, they fake the rankings, put him at No. 5… It’s business, not sport.”

For Tsarukyan, who’s chased a championship opportunity with grinding consistency, the move stings.

“It’s hard because this is your goal,” he said. “I deserve to fight for the title.”

But Tsarukyan isn’t lost in anger he’s locked in on inevitability.

“I’m going to be champion. It’s just time whether the beginning of the year or end of next year.”