Arman Tsarukyan unleashes a brutal assessment of Paddy Pimblett's UFC capabilities! After UFC 324, the usually composed fighter didn't mince words, calling Pimblett the 'worst UFC fighter' and questioning his very presence in the promotion. It's a fiery take that's sure to stir up the fight community!
Paddy Pimblett, who had a shot at becoming the interim UFC lightweight champion, ultimately fell short against Justin Gaethje in a unanimous decision loss. From his ringside seat, Arman Tsarukyan, who was himself out of the interim title picture, couldn't hide his satisfaction. "I was enjoying every moment when Gaethje clipped him," Tsarukyan admitted on "The Ariel Helwani Show." He went on to say, "He's a bitch. He doesn't deserve to be there... I was happy because now UFC can see why they put the trash can there. And he never deserved to be there."
Gaethje secured the interim championship with scorecards reading 48-47, 49-46, and 49-46. While Tsarukyan has some respect for Gaethje, his opinion of Pimblett's fighting prowess is starkly different. "Gaethje, he's good, but he got tired from the second round," Tsarukyan noted. "He dropped him, and he couldn't stop him because he's tired from the first round – and Paddy Pimblett, he has zero MMA skills. He has a chin, and that's it."
But here's where it gets controversial... Tsarukyan doubled down, stating, "He has zero technique, to be honest. Oh, my God. I feel like everybody can beat him." He elaborated by listing top fighters like Rafael Fiziev, Benoit Saint Denis, himself, Charles Oliveira, Max Holloway, and even Dan Hooker, all of whom he believes could defeat Pimblett. The only exception he humorously pointed out was Michael Chandler, suggesting Chandler's UFC ranking might be a result of promotion rather than pure skill. "If you go through the list... everybody can beat him. Dan Hooker beats him 100 percent."
Tsarukyan's frustration is palpable, suggesting Pimblett should take a significant break, perhaps five or six years, to recover mentally and physically. He even went as far as to suggest the UFC should consider releasing him from the roster. "I would like UFC cut him out," Tsarukyan declared. "Bullsh*t guy. Worst UFC fighter. ... He's so bad. He's not – I'm saying like real, right?" He contrasted Pimblett with other highly-regarded fighters like Ilia Topuria, Islam Makhachev, Charles Oliveira, Max Holloway, and Dustin Poirier, all of whom he acknowledged as skilled. "But like this trash can, he's zero fighter. Not because I hate him, because it's real like that. If you give me like, give me Paddy, I would play. I would like, I think, during the fight, I'm going to decide what I should do, knock him out, or choke him out, like with Hooker, you know?"
And this is the part most people miss... Tsarukyan's assessment isn't just about a personal dislike; it's a critique of what he perceives as a fighter lacking fundamental skills being placed in high-stakes situations. He believes that fighters with genuine talent would easily dismantle Pimblett, even suggesting he could toy with him during a fight.
What do you think? Is Arman Tsarukyan's assessment fair, or is he simply being overly harsh? Does Paddy Pimblett possess the skills to compete at the highest level of the UFC, or is he being overhyped? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
