UFC CEO Dana White used the Thanksgiving Day CBS broadcast of the Dallas Cowboys vs. Kansas Metropolis Chiefs NFL sport to announce a number of high-profile fights that’ll kick off the battle promotion’s new 12 months below the media rights settlement with Paramount.
The primary UFC occasion below the brand new partnership, UFC 324: Gaethje vs. Pimblett, takes place on Jan. 24 at T-Cellular Enviornment in Las Vegas. The battle card is headlined by an interim light-weight title bout between former interim titleholder and No. 4 ranked contender Justin Gaethje and No. 5 ranked Paddy Pimblett.
Almost as quickly because the interim title bout was introduced it started receiving criticism. Former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling was one who voiced his disapproval of the matchup.
“Now we have a bit little bit of a debacle occurring for these title pictures. Dana introduced some massive fights, some massive fights that had been very, very complicated. Enjoyable fights nonetheless, however very, very complicated,” Sterling stated on his YouTube channel.
“Let’s begin with the plain. The No. 1 (light-weight) contender, Arman Tsarukyan, he was presupposed to battle Islam Makhachev. Obtained damage, and understandably pulled out and had some repercussions from the UFC brass, which I perceive. However the man made up for it.
“He weighed in as a backup fighter, which sucks. Yeah, they pay you, however it sucks. It’s important to weight, not even understanding if you are going to really battle,” continued Sterling. “He did that, backup fighter, did not get the decision, however could wait and present the UFC he is an organization man, he will do what he can to maker issues proper. Then he goes on and he fights once more, defends his No. 1 spot, beats Dan Hooker and will get a end.”
Associated: Ilia Topuria taking prolonged break, interim title created
We do not definitively know what passed off behind the scenes, however Sterling does not imagine Tsarukyan would have turned down an interim title battle in opposition to both Gaethje or Pimblett. It seems the highest contender was handed over.
“I am positive if he (Tsarukyan) had the chance to battle for the interim title between Paddy Pimblett or Justin Gaethje, he would have completed it except we’re all fully mistaken and he stated, ‘No. I solely need to battle for the title or that is it, and that is in opposition to Ilia,'” stated Sterling.
“I believe Arman would have taken the battle. That is simply what I’d suppose. It is not too dangerous of a turnaround. And on prime of that, he simply gained. Obtained a end. Did not take lots of harm. I do not understand how laborious the coaching camp was, however did not take lots of harm. It simply sucks to see that,” added the previous champion.
After the interim title bout was introduced, Tsarukyan had a four-word response. “Make it make sense,” he wrote on X.
