Paddy Pimblett rooted against Chimaev due to Tsarukyan corner presence

Paddy Pimblett has admitted he was cheering against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328 on May 9, not necessarily out of admiration for Sean Strickland, but because Arman Tsarukyan was working Chimaev's corner that night.

The Liverpool-born lightweight, ranked sixth at 155 pounds with a 23-4-0 record, made no secret of where his allegiances sat. Pimblett, 31, conceded that Tsarukyan's presence in the opposing camp was enough to flip his preference, a candid admission that points to genuine friction between himself and the Armenian lightweight contender. The Baddy lands 5.49 significant strikes per minute and connects at 52 percent accuracy, making him one of the more active fighters on the UFC roster.

Strickland, the reigning middleweight champion, entered the contest at 31-7-0. The 35-year-old American out of Xtreme Couture carries a reach of 76 inches and throws volume at 6.04 significant strikes per minute, a rate that ranks among the highest in the division. His 185-centimeter frame and orthodox stance have anchored his title reign.

Chimaev, the No. 1-ranked middleweight and No. 10 pound-for-pound fighter, came in at 14-1-0 heading into the event. The UAE-based Swede is 32 years old, stands six-foot-two, and averages a remarkable 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside a 60 percent striking accuracy — among the sharpest in the division.

Why it matters

• Pimblett's comments confirm ongoing personal tension between himself and Tsarukyan, both active in a crowded lightweight division.
• Tsarukyan's corner role at a middleweight title fight signals his broader connections within the UFC landscape.
• With Pimblett sitting sixth at lightweight, any escalating rivalry with Tsarukyan carries direct divisional stakes for both men.