Arman Tsarukyan called Paddy Pimblett's title fight against Justin Gaethje at UFC 324 "completely undeserved." The top-ranked lightweight believes Pimblett was "pushed up the rankings artificially" for the Las Vegas showdown, which Pimblett lost in a brutal war.

Tsarukyan, who holds the division's No. 1 contender spot, was overlooked for the interim title bout. UFC president Dana White selected the more popular Pimblett despite his lack of wins over current top-10 opponents. The decision has sparked debate about merit versus marketability in the sport.

Gaethje made history as the oldest UFC lightweight champion and a two-time interim titleholder. Ilia Topuria, the champion who opted out of fighting in early 2026, taunted Pimblett for missing a massive payday. Now, the path forward for the division's top contenders remains clouded.