Arman Tsarukyan says the UFC wants to make Buddy Pimblett the lightweight champion

Arman Tsarukyan says he was overlooked for an interim lightweight title shot because the UFC “wants to make” Buddy Pimblett champion.

Pimblett will face Liverpool’s American Justin Gaethje for the interim belt on January 24, with top contender Tsarukyan ignored.

The match was surprising, considering that Gaethje is in fourth place with Pimblett in fifth.

Tsarukyan suggested that Pimblett’s star power guaranteed him the fight.

“They know if they were to put me against him, he would lose and the star would be gone,” Tsarukyan said after returning to action in a wrestling match over the weekend.

“Gaethje is easy money for him. He’s old, he probably has one or two fights left.

“That’s why they gave him a temporary shot at the title because he’s not going to be a real champion, because there’s Elijah Topuria, and I don’t think he can ever beat Elijah Topuria.”

UFC president Dana White was coy about why he overlooked Tsarukyan for the interim title fight, but admitted the 29-year-old headbutted Dan Hooker during the weigh-in before his latest win contributed to the decision.

Tsarukyan also withdrew from his title fight with Islam Makhachev in January 2025 at Fight Week.

Lightweight champion Ilya Topuria, 28, is currently taking a break from fighting for personal reasons surrounding his family.

The UFC has decided to make an interim bout in his absence and fans expect Tsarukyan to fight the winner of Gaethje v Pimblett if the interim titleholder is promoted to full champion or if Topuria’s return is delayed further.

But Tsarukyan is pessimistic about the 31-year-old Pimblett agreeing to fight him.

“I am a nightmare for him and he knows that if we want to fight, he will lose. He will try not to fight me all his life,” he said.

“I hope Justin Gaethje fires him.”