Justin Gaethje is the new UFC lightweight champion after dethroning Ilia Topuria at UFC White House earlier this month in Washington, DC. Assuming “The Highlight” doesn’t retire, it wold make sense, at least on paper, to have his first title defense come against top contender Arman Tsarukyan.
That said, the 29 year-old Tsarukyan may still be in Dana White’s doghouse, unrelated to his UFC 311 disaster. It seems “Ahalkalakets” was offered the chance to avenge his UFC Vegas 57 loss to lightweight veteran
Mateusz Gamrot — his only defeat under the UFC banner — but turned it down.
“Arman Tsarukyan is a posh boy, a helmet,” Pimblett (23-4) told Demetrious Johnson on YouTube (transcribed by Bloody Elbow). “I’m not a big fan of his at all. I think he’s a f—ing idiot. I don’t even think he deserves the next title shot, lad. He’s beaten Dan Hooker in the past three years. He’s a great athlete. He couldn’t beat Gamrot. Last year, he got offered that rematch and said no.”
Tsarukyan (23-3) has only competed once over the last two years, submitting Dan Hooker at UFC Qatar.
“Imagine getting offered a rematch against someone who’s beat you, and you said no. Now that is a b*tch right there,” Pimblett added. “Arman would have been closer to a title shot, beating Gamrot than beating Dan Hooker. Dan Hooker’s a bum, lad. Dan Hooker’s a proper bum. Dan Hooker can’t fight to save his life, lad. Michael Chandler knocked him out, and Michael Chandler’s not in the top 15 anymore.”
Hooker holds a win over Gamrot, for whatever that’s worth.
Pimblett and Tsarukyan have been locked in a war of words over the last several months but don’t appear to be on any sort of collision course. “The Baddy” is already booked to face Benoit Saint Denis at UFC 329 next month in Las Vegas while Tsarukyan — the current RAF poster boy — awaits his next assignment.
