The decision of Ilya Topuria not to fight in the first months of 2026 has shaken the UFC lightweight division, which was forced to take action on the matter: Justin Gaethje and Buddy Pimblett will fight for the interim belt of the division at UFC 324. Two news that did not go down well Arman Tsarukyan, who revealed his crazy theory To explain why the company run by Dana White chose the confrontation between the Americans and the British.
“It’s not a family problem or anything like that. They want to make Pimblett a star The No. 1 ranked lightweight said in an interview with the ESPN MMA network, questioning the justification of the Spanish Georgian who claimed that he was “going through a difficult time” and that he needed to focus on his sons to explain his absence from the octagon in the first quarter of 2026, “and taking him to the title fight with Topuria, who has the biggest name.”
In this sense, Tsarukyan reveals that the fight between the matador and Badi It has already been agreed uponAlso, no matter what happened in his face-to-face confrontation with Dan Hooker on November 22 in Qatar, he had no chance of facing the Spaniard.
“I knew the UFC wanted Pimblett vs. Topuria, and in my mind I put it in my mind that even knocking out Hooker couldn’t be me because that fight was ready. I found out about it four or five months ago, and it was scheduled for January“says the Armenian. However, “in the end Ilya says he’s not fighting and I think that’s the game plan,” he adds regarding the UFC’s plans.
Tsarukyan also weighed in on the head-to-head between Gaethje and Pimblett, explaining who he would support: “I hope Justin hits him. I was going to slam Buddy’s face into the ground with my elbow. I would never choke him, I would elbow him all day long. Justin, if you really need help. I hate this idiot. He’s a bastard. If I see Buddy I will slap him.”