Arman Tsarukyan is now in a strange place in the lightweight division.
Although many fans believe that Tsarukyan is the rightful next candidate, Ilia Topuria clearly has no intention of fighting him after he recently stated that he would rather have left his title.
This has led to the fact that fans accused Topuria of diving the biggest challenge for him in the lightweight division.
In the meantime, Tsarukyan has been critical of Paddy Pimblett, who seems to be much closer to receiving a shot on the belt after following his face with the champion at UFC 317.
There is also another name in the mix, in which Justin Gaethje suggests that he will retire if he does not get the title shot that he believes he is owed by the UFC.
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
The manager of Arman Tsarukyan responds to Paddy Pimblett and claims that he wants to fight Justin Gaethje because he is a 'legend'
In a recent interview with one on one, Paddy Pimblett was asked about the potential matchups that are for him if he doesn't fight Ilia Topuria.
'The Baddy' explained why he would favor a fight with Justin Gaethje because of his legend status, where he refers to the late withdrawal of Arman Tsarukyan from his UFC 311 title fight when ignoring the top candidate.
“I would fight against someone, as you know. I am not —. Arman is a very good hunter but nobody cares about him, you know what I mean? People just look at him and think: 'Yes, you are yourself [before] Fighting against Islam. You talk about a big game, but you don't support it. '
“But everyone knows Justin Gaethje's – Banger. Everyone knows that if you are fighting Justin Gaethje, you will fight and he is a legend. Arman is not. So I would like to fight another legend in Justin Gaethje.”
Although it is not that Pimblett versus Gaethje would be a huge fight, Topuria recently suggested that he believes that the UFC will encourage 'the peak'.
That leaves 'The Baddy' in an interesting place where his top two goals may not be available for some time.
In a response to the recent comments from the Brit, Tsarukyan's manager suggested that Pimblett's reasoning for choosing a fight with Gaethje has a frightening.
“Translation:” I am losing from Arman, I think I can beat Gaethje “”
Arman Tsarukyan believes that there is another opponent who could offer him the UFC
Speaking on the overogue podcast, Arman Tsarukyan was asked who he thinks the UFC will offer him if he does not get the next title shot.
In addition to Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett, he said that Hooker could be another option, so that he could strengthen his status as the best competition.
He also has history with Hooker, which would cause an entertaining structure of the fight, although Tsarukyan is not worried about every matchup that the UFC chooses to give him.
“They are all good fights for me, so it's easy money.”
We do not know when Ilia Topuria is currently returning to the Octagon, but as soon as one of the best lightweight contenders has been booked, the landscape of the division quickly becomes clear.