Liverpool lightweight Paddy Pimblett rejected claims that he is avoiding a fight with the top contender Arman Tsarukyan in a recent MMA Junkie interview, declaring his readiness to face anyone in the lightweight division. Pimblett also voiced strong disapproval of Tsarukyan, calling him an “absolute helmet.”
“People saying I’m ducking Arman – I’ve never been offered to fight Arman,”
Pimblett said.
“If I ever got offered to fight Arman, I’d have punched his head in by now. He irritates me. I think he’s an absolute helmet.”
The Meaning Behind Pimblett’s Insult and Rivalry Tensions
The word “helmet” is British slang for a foolish or unintelligent person, akin to calling someone a “dickhead.” Pimblett’s remark escalates the ongoing contention between the two fighters. Tsarukyan currently holds the number one contender position in the lightweight division, which has fueled this debate.
The rivalry grew sharper after Pimblett was granted an interim title shot against Justin Gaethje scheduled for UFC 324 on January 24, 2026, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Tsarukyan, who is riding a five-fight winning streak, expressed dissatisfaction about being overlooked for this opportunity.
Controversies Surrounding Arman Tsarukyan
Following his November win over Dan Hooker at UFC Qatar, Tsarukyan stated,
“Everyone knows that Paddy Pimblett is being positioned as a champion because this is his moment.”
He added,
“They are aware that if I face him, he will lose, and that would diminish his star power.”
UFC president Dana White confirmed that Tsarukyan’s recent misconduct impacted the decision to favor Pimblett. During the weigh-in before his fight with Hooker, Tsarukyan headbutted his opponent, prompting security intervention. Earlier, at UFC 300, he had attempted to strike a fan during his walkout, which resulted in a $25,000 fine and a suspension by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
“A 100 percent,” White told Barstool Sports when asked if the headbutt incident influenced the decision to deny Tsarukyan the interim title shot.
“A lot of things have factored in.”
Pimblett also commented on Tsarukyan’s behavior:
“He shouldn’t headbutt people at weigh-ins, then should he? And punch fans walking out,”
defending why he was awarded the title shot despite Tsarukyan’s ranking.
Details of Pimblett’s Upcoming UFC 324 Title Bout
Pimblett is set to challenge Justin Gaethje for the interim lightweight championship at UFC 324 after the reigning champion Ilia Topuria announced his unavailability for the first quarter of 2026 due to personal matters. Topuria, a Georgian–Spanish fighter with a flawless 17-0 record, won the lightweight title by knocking out Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 in June 2025 after previously holding the featherweight crown.
Pimblett arrives at UFC 324 undefeated in the UFC with a 7-0 record and a nine-fight winning streak overall. His latest significant win was in April 2025, when he defeated former Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler via third-round technical knockout at UFC 314, earning a spot among the top five contenders in the lightweight rankings.
“I’ve got the longest win streak in the division and Justin Gaethje is a perennial contender, he’s an absolute legend,”
Pimblett stated.
“I think they thought it was the right fight to make at the time. We’re not running around punching fans walking out and head-kicking fighters at weigh-ins. I can understand why we’re getting it and some certain others aren’t.”
Pimblett’s Confidence About Facing Tsarukyan and Other Rivals
Expressing readiness to fight Tsarukyan and others following his potential match with Gaethje, Pimblett said, “So yeah, I’d fight Arman.” He added,
“If Ilia can’t come back by June, July, then he needs stripping. He’s slowing the division down. I’ll defend against Arman or Max or Charles or whoever, I don’t care.”
Regarding Topuria, although Pimblett respects his skills, he remains confident of prevailing.
“As for Ilia, it’s like fate. It was meant to happen because all that was just over nothing, but now we just dislike each other. I respect him as a fighter – I think he’s a brilliant fighter, he’s number two pound-for-pound behind Islam for me – but I want to beat him. I want to show everyone why we have weight divisions and that he’s just too small to beat me.”
Tsarukyan Remains Active While Awaiting Next UFC Chance
While waiting for his next UFC fight, Tsarukyan has stayed busy competing in professional grappling matches and achieved a notable victory in freestyle wrestling at RAF 5 in January 2026. There, he dominated former PFL champion Lance Palmer by technical fall. The Armenian contender has also indicated that he will be ready to step in as an alternate at UFC 324 should either main event fighter withdraw from the bout in Las Vegas.
“I’m available,” Tsarukyan confirmed.
“I’m in great shape. If the UFC calls me, I’ll be ready to fight.”
