Arman Tsarukyan Dismisses Chandler vs. Pimblett: “Just a Hype Fight”

Arman Tsarukyan calls the UFC 314 co-main event between Michael Chandler and Paddy Pimblett a “hype fight” and focuses on securing a top contender for his next bout.

Tsarukyan Uninterested in Chandler vs. Pimblett

On April 12, at UFC 314, Michael Chandler (23-9 MMA, 2-4 UFC) will face Paddy Pimblett (22-3 MMA, 6-0 UFC) in a five-round co-main event at the Kaseya Center in Miami. While the fight has generated plenty of buzz, Arman Tsarukyan is far from impressed.

Speaking in an interview with The Schmo, the top-ranked lightweight contender made it clear that he has no interest in the fight and does not consider either competitor a serious threat in the division:

“I don’t know. They’re both not good, so I don’t follow them. It’s like a 50-50 fight. It’s just a hype fight. I don’t watch their fights because they’re not on my level. It’s top-five fighters or real contenders’ fights.”

Offered Short-Notice Fight Against Gaethje

During the interview, Tsarukyan also revealed that he was offered a fight against Justin Gaethje at UFC 313 but requested a 160 lbs catchweight instead of the standard lightweight limit of 155 lbs.

“When Hooker pulled out, I was the first guy they called. I said I could fight, but at 160 lbs because it was short notice. UFC considered it, but Gaethje declined and chose another opponent.”

Tsarukyan was also surprised by the outcome of Gaethje’s fight against Rafael Fiziev, believing Fiziev had the tools to win:

“I thought Fiziev was going to win because he had a long time to recover. But it was the same fight as last time—he won the first round and lost the second and third.”

Focused on Top Contenders – Ready for a Comeback

After withdrawing from his scheduled title fight against Islam Makhachev at UFC 311 due to a back injury sustained during his weight cut, Tsarukyan is now back in training and aiming for a fight in April or May. However, he made it clear that he will only face top-ranked contenders.

“I want to fight someone from the top five. It could be Gaethje or Oliveira. Gaethje should fight me if he wants a title shot because no one is giving him a direct title fight.”

When asked if he would fight Charles Oliveira again, Tsarukyan did not hesitate:

“Of course. I know I’m better than everyone in this division. It doesn’t matter if I fight for the title in two months or six months—I will take the belt.”

Will Ilia Topuria Challenge Makhachev for the Title?

One of the hottest discussions in the UFC right now is whether featherweight champion Ilia Topuria will move up to challenge Islam Makhachev for the lightweight title. Tsarukyan sees it as a possible fight but believes Topuria will struggle against Makhachev’s elite wrestling.

“Ilia has good boxing, but he has never fought anyone who can wrestle like Islam. It’s a 50/50 fight.”

Fully Focused on Training – Waiting for UFC’s Call

Currently, Tsarukyan is based in California, but he plans to return to Russia if he gets a fight in Saudi Arabia or Abu Dhabi. For now, his only focus is training, and he refuses to relax until a fight is officially booked.

“I’m training more than ever. After my injury, I started working on my back, and after two weeks, I was back in the gym. Right now, I live in the gym and am waiting for UFC’s call.”

He also had a message for his fans:

“Thank you to everyone who supports me—you motivate me to keep going and never give up!”

What Do You Think About Tsarukyan’s Comments?

Do you agree with him that Chandler vs. Pimblett is just a hype fight, or do you think the winner could become a serious contender? Comment and discuss!

Källa: MMAnytt.se

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