During UFC 324, Justin Gaethje secured the interim lightweight championship by defeating Paddy Pimblett, a result that surprised many fans who believed Arman Tsarukyan deserved the opportunity after his strong victory over Dan Hooker. Despite Tsarukyan’s momentum, the UFC chose not to feature him in the title picture, sparking discussion about the promotion’s direction and athlete management.
Understanding the Reasons Behind Tsarukyan’s Omission
Since being overlooked for the interim lightweight title bout, much debate has arisen regarding how the UFC has handled Tsarukyan’s career trajectory. UFC President Dana White highlighted that Tsarukyan has made several mistakes over recent years, impacting his standing within the organization and necessitating effort on his part to regain favor.
Daniel Cormier’s Perspective on the UFC’s Decision
In a recent commentary on his YouTube channel, UFC analyst Daniel Cormier addressed both the Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje matchup and the controversy surrounding Tsarukyan’s exclusion. He acknowledged the fight‘s significance but explained why the UFC’s path made strategic sense.
“It feels like that’s a massive fight that is worthy of being on such a massive card,”
Cormier remarked.
“And with Topuria being who he is, with Gaethje being who he is, an American guy holding a UFC title – look, the UFC booked Paddy Pimblett vs. Justin Gaethje. (If) Paddy Pimblett won, you had a star who was going to fight Ilia for the belt.
Justin Gaethje won, (and) now you have an American guy holding a portion of a title with a fight at the White House that is going to happen in June. It was a no-lose situation, and honestly I don’t know how we missed it. Everybody’s like, ‘Well, why is that dude, why isn’t it Arman?’ Now it kind of makes sense because now that Gaethje has the belt, you’ve got an American guy holding a title going into the White House. It worked one way or the other. Now it makes more sense to me.”
The Broader Impact of the UFC’s Choice
Cormier’s explanation sheds light on the business and promotional considerations influencing UFC matchmaking decisions, especially when national representation and high-profile events like the White House announcement are involved. Although many remain frustrated by Tsarukyan’s snub, this approach aims to maximize visibility and appeal.
Moving forward, Tsarukyan’s task will be to address the issues pointed out by Dana White and rebuild his position within the promotion to earn future title opportunities. Meanwhile, the promotion benefits from having an American interim champion leading into the upcoming notable event in June, potentially strengthening its market reach.
