Paddy Pimblett believes he is one win away from putting himself back in the lightweight title conversation, but he doesn’t think the same can be said for Arman Tsarukyan.
The Liverpool native returns to action this weekend when he faces Benoit Saint Denis in the co-main event of UFC 329. A victory could move him one step closer to another shot at UFC lightweight champion Justin Gaethje after their thrilling five-round battle earlier this year.
Although Paddy Pimblett came up short against Gaethje in January, many fans viewed the performance as a breakthrough moment. The former interim title challenger proved he could compete with the division’s elite and pushed the future champion for the full 25 minutes.
Pimblett has already admitted that beating Saint Denis alone may not be enough to secure a title shot. However, he believes another high-profile win would put him right back in the mix.
While discussing the lightweight title picture during UFC 329 media day, Pimblett took aim at Arman Tsarukyan, who has been lobbying for a championship opportunity despite his limited activity inside the Octagon.
“He needs to fight,” Pimblett said. “He’s had like one fight in three years, and he beat an absolute bum. He needs to actually fight. Not go around in a singlet tickling people.”
Tsarukyan’s most recent UFC appearance came in a dominant win over Dan Hooker, extending his winning streak to five fights. However, Paddy Pimblett remains unconvinced that the Armenian contender has done enough to earn a title shot.
Much of Tsarukyan’s recent activity has come in wrestling competitions under the RAF banner rather than inside the UFC. While Tsarukyan is scheduled to compete in another wrestling event this weekend before returning for a bout against Colby Covington, Pimblett insists those appearances should not strengthen his championship case.
“[Fight] anyone. Just fight someone,” Pimblett said. “Get in the Octagon and actually fight. Stop going around on your private jet eating food.”
The comments add another layer to the growing rivalry between the two lightweight contenders as both men continue chasing a shot at UFC gold.
Despite his confidence heading into UFC 329, Paddy Pimblett has not forgotten the lessons he learned from his defeat to Justin Gaethje.
The British star admitted that sharing the cage with one of the division’s most dangerous fighters taught him plenty, although he believes an accidental eye poke played a significant role in the outcome.
“I’m not going to use it as an excuse, but the eye poke did change the fight in a big way,” Pimblett said. “The damage on my face was from an eye poke right hand.”
“It wasn’t just an eye poke. I felt his thumb touch my brain. So it was a bit heavy. I couldn’t see for about two rounds after it.”
Even with those frustrations, Pimblett praised Gaethje for his recent success. The American went on to defeat Ilia Topuria and capture the undisputed lightweight title, a result Pimblett predicted long before it happened.
Rather than dwelling on the loss, Paddy Pimblett sees Gaethje’s rise to the top as something that could ultimately benefit his own career.
“Obviously, with him winning and becoming undisputed champion, it looks good for me,” Pimblett said.
“I said after he beat me, I said he was going to beat Ilia Topuria. I said it was fate that he beat me. It was his destiny to win the title at the White House. I was just in the way.”
For now, Pimblett’s focus remains on Benoit Saint Denis at UFC 329. A victory would not only halt the momentum from his first UFC defeat but could also place him firmly back among the lightweight division’s top contenders.
