Arman Tsarukyan disappointed over UFC title snub: 'I couldn't believe'

The UFC booked an interim title fight at 155 pounds, and much of the MMA world is in disbelief that Arman Tsarukyan is not in it, including Tsarukyan himself.

With lightweight champion Ilia Topuria attending personal issues, the UFC decided to implement an interim belt that will be disputed between Paddy Pimblett and Justin Gaethje in the main event of UFC 324 in Las Vegas on Jan 24. – the first numbered event of 2026 and first numbered event under the promotion's new seven-year broadcast deal with Paramount-CBS. Tsarukyan (23-3 MMA, 10-2 UFC), who's been the No. 1 contender in the UFC official rankings for a year now, was skipped over.

Although he didn't expect to be next for Topuria, he never imagined he'd be left out of an interim title bout needed two contenders.

"Two days before I got stressed, two days before, one day before they announced the fight," Tsarukyan told ESPN when he heard about the making of the interim belt. "I couldn't believe. I was like, 'No way, no way, no way. It's not going to happen,' but they told me, 'No, it's going to happen, be ready. Don't get stressed because it is what it is.'

"It's a business. At the end of the day, I've got the same goal. I'm going to train next week, get better, and everybody knows I'll beat everybody. It's just timing to see if it's going to be in the summer or whatever. But they know I can beat everyone – that's why they didn't give me a title fight. Paddy, easy work. Justin, easy work. Ilia, easy work. It was hard work Islam (Makhachev), but he left. Nobody on my level in this division right now."

Tsarukyan thinks this is all a marketing plan from the promotion to build up a potential grudge match between Topuria and Pimblett, who are two of the biggest stars in MMA today, and have been feuding for several years.

"I knew that UFC wanted to do Ilia vs. Paddy, and in my mind, I didn't think something would happen – even if I knocked (Dan Hooker) out because they already set up all things," Tsarukyan said. "At the end of the day, Ilia didn't fight, but I think this is the UFC's game plan. This is not a family issue or something. They want to make star Paddy Pimblett, to fight for the title with Topuria, so he has a bigger name and make a big fight. Kind of like Khabib (Nurmagomedov) vs. Conor (McGregor), but they're not even, if he gets the belt."

Tsarukyan is coming off a dominant submission win over veteran Dan Hooker at UFC Fight Night 265 in Qatar. With the win, he's now on a five-fight winning streak and 10-1 in his last 11 outings. Tsarukyan admits it's been hard to process this bout, given he's the No. 1 contender in the divsion.

"It's hard because it's your goal," Tsarukyan said. "Bullsh*t guy like Paddy just beat one ranked No. 12, they made a fake ranking, and they put him at No. 5, and it's a business. It's not just a sport. They can do whatever they want to do, but at the end of the day, I'm going to be a champion. It's just time, the difference of the time, beginning of the year or the end of next year. It's hard. It's hard because I deserve to fight for the title."

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Arman Tsarukyan disappointed over UFC title snub: 'I couldn't believe'