Prime light-weight contender Arman Tsarukyan solidified his place on the high of the 155-pound division with a second-round submission win over No. 6 ranked Dan Hooker within the UFC Qatar essential occasion final Saturday.
Tsarukyan earned a ‘Efficiency of the Evening’ bonus for the end and believes he additionally punched his ticket to a title shot in opposition to champion Ilia Topuria. However the combat promotion might produce other plans. Topuria and No. 5 ranked Paddy Pimblett have historical past and a storyline.
“It is one hundred pc bought to be me. No approach they can provide Paddy Pimblett that combat,” Tsarukyan mentioned throughout an look on The Ariel Helwani Present. “All people going to chortle at them as a result of I am the No. 1 contender. I proved it once more. What do they need from me, you understand? I went there, carried out, simply destroy Dan Hooker, and so they need to put the man who’s pretend making rank?”
Pimblett and Topuria’s feud dates again years. It started from on-line feedback by Pimblett about Topuria’s countrymen. That led to a bodily altercation on the fighter lodge in London throughout UFC Combat Evening 204 combat week in March 2022. The 2 almost got here to blows on the UFC 282 Press Convention later that yr. Storylines typically instances promote fights, however Tsarukyan scoffed on the considered Pimblett deserving a title shot.
Associated: Paddy Pimblett warns Arman Tsarukyan and Ilia Topuria, takes intention at ‘correct b*tch’ Justin Gaethje
“How one can beat like a No. 12, or No. 13 and have become No. 5? I used to be beating everyone in our division,” Tsarukyan mentioned. “I used to be on a 5 – 6 win streak to get within the Prime 15. This man simply beats six folks and like he is No. 5,” Tsarukyan mentioned. “Hopefully it is a title combat subsequent.”
“It must be me. No matter they need to do. Their plan was possibly that I’ll battle with Dan Hooker and so they may push me on the again and say, ‘hey pay attention, you barely received (in opposition to) Dan Hooker, you have to wait.’ However now they can’t say something as a result of the No. 1 contender is right here. I confirmed up in Qatar to point out everyone a masterclass. Hopefully it is me,” Tsarukyan continued. “Not hopefully. It is speculated to be me.”
