Paddy Pimblett revealed he was rooting for Sean Strickland in the UFC 328 main event simply because Arman Tsarukyan was in Khamzat Chimaev's corner. Pimblett stated, "A part of me kind of hopes that Khamzat loses, just because Arman is in his corner." The admission highlights lingering tensions between the British lightweight and Tsarukyan. The comments were made on Pimblett's YouTube channel. This reveals the personal dynamics and rivalries that extend beyond the octagon.
Paddy Pimblett admitted on his YouTube channel this week that he found himself cheering against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328 on May 9, not because of any direct issue with "Borz" himself, but because of who was standing in his corner — lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan.
The Liverpool native, ranked sixth in the lightweight division at 31 years old, holds a professional record of 23-4. Pimblett paraphrased his own feelings plainly, saying a part of him hoped Chimaev would lose simply due to Tsarukyan's presence at ringside. The comment makes clear that whatever tension exists between Pimblett and the Armenian contender has not faded.
Chimaev, the number-one ranked middleweight and tenth-ranked pound-for-pound fighter, entered UFC 328 with a 15-1 record. The 32-year-old, who trains out of Allstars Training Center and represents the United Arab Emirates, is one of the most dominant grapplers in the sport, averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes and landing 60 percent of his significant strikes. He headlined the card against champion Sean Strickland.
Strickland, 35, carries a 31-7 record and holds the middleweight title. The American, who trains at Xtreme Couture, is a high-volume striker who lands 6.04 significant strikes per minute.
Why it matters
- Pimblett's comments expose an ongoing personal rivalry with Tsarukyan that shapes how he views fights beyond his own.
- Tsarukyan's corner role at UFC 328 signals his close alignment with Chimaev's camp, which could complicate any future lightweight title picture involving Pimblett.
- At ranked sixth in the lightweight division, Pimblett has clear competitive reasons to monitor Tsarukyan's alliances carefully.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
