Arman Tsarukyan has criticised Paddy Pimblett’s path through the UFC, claiming the promotion gave him a favourable run through the lightweight division with handpicked opponents and heavy marketing.
Arman Tsarukyan questioned the legitimacy of Paddy Pimblett’s rise in the UFC, arguing that the British fighter’s career has been shaped more by business decisions than competitive merit.
He believes the organisation has protected Pimblett from tougher challenges while prioritising his marketability.
Arman Tsarukyan questions Paddy Pimblett’s rise in rankings
Arman Tsarukyan told Complex that Paddy Pimblett’s climb up the lightweight rankings came without facing elite-level opponents.
He claimed the matchups Pimblett received were chosen to keep him winning rather than test his ability against top contenders.
“He beat trash fighters, he got easy fights and the UFC just made his career so easy,” Tsarukyan said.
“He beat Michael Chandler, who was #12, and then he became #5. They put him in the top 5, even though he didn’t beat a top 5 fighter. It’s just business.”
Arman Tsarukyan says UFC rankings reward popularity over merit
Arman Tsarukyan argued that the UFC’s ranking system often benefits fighters who generate fan interest and revenue rather than those who have earned their positions purely through competition.
He believes promotional value plays a major role in how fights and rankings are decided, something which several fans and analysts have hinted at over the years.
The Georgian fighter said he would welcome a future fight with Paddy Pimblett to test how the Liverpool native performs against top-tier competition.
Tsarukyan added that such a matchup would highlight the difference between promotional hype and genuine skill.
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