Paddy Pimblett has sharply criticized Arman Tsarukyan for competing in RAF grappling events rather than staying active in the UFC. Pimblett noted that Tsarukyan has posted just one win over two years, dismissing that victory over Dan Hooker as inconsequential. He called on Tsarukyan to drop the grappling appearances and focus on fighting inside the Octagon.
Paddy Pimblett has taken aim at Arman Tsarukyan, publicly criticizing the top-ranked lightweight for competing in RAF grappling events rather than pursuing fights inside the UFC Octagon.
Pimblett, ranked sixth in the lightweight division at 31 years old, carries a 23-4 record and has established himself as one of the more active and vocal figures at 155 pounds. The Liverpool native lands 5.49 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy and averages 1.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes, making him a consistent threat on the feet and on the mat. He argued that Tsarukyan's outside grappling appearances are a distraction from where real business gets done, and he dismissed Tsarukyan's recent win over Dan Hooker as a result that should carry little weight.
Tsarukyan, ranked first in the lightweight division at 29 years old, holds a 23-3 record and trains out of American Top Team. The Russian fighter is a formidable grappler by any measure, averaging 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes, but Pimblett's criticism centers on the perception that Tsarukyan has managed just one UFC victory over a span of roughly two years. Pimblett called on him to shelve the grappling circuit and return to competing at the highest level of the sport.
Hooker, ranked fifth at lightweight, is a 36-year-old New Zealander out of City Kickboxing with a 24-14 record. He lands 4.82 significant strikes per minute, and while Pimblett framed the win over him as inconsequential, Hooker remains a ranked presence in one of the UFC's most competitive divisions.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan sits just one step below a lightweight title shot, making his perceived inactivity a genuine divisional conversation.
- Pimblett at sixth and Tsarukyan at first occupy the same weight class, adding personal stakes to the public criticism.
- The exchange highlights growing tension around fighters balancing outside grappling events against UFC obligations at the top of the rankings.
