Justin Gaethje understands why Arman Tsarukyan was left out of the title picture.
Tsarukyan is the No. 1 ranked UFC lightweight, but the promotion opted to go with Gaethje (26-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC) vs. Paddy Pimblett (23-3 MMA, 7-0 UFC) for the interim belt in Saturday’s UFC 324 headliner at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas (Paramount+). The winner is expected to unify with UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria.
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Gaethje, who heavily campaigned for his title opportunity, thinks Tsarukyan (23-3 MMA, 10-2 UFC) should have been part of the equation – but not after his recent actions. From pulling out of his title fight against Islam Makhachev at UFC 311, to punching a fan in the stands, and head butting Dan Hooker at weigh-ins, Gaethje understands the UFC’s point of view, especially with UFC 324 being the first event on the new Paramount deal.
“Tsarukyan is definitely probably more deserving,” Gaethje told New York Post Sports. “But the guy f*cked up multiple times, and this is something you cannot do. He was going to fight for the belt, he pulled out the night before because he couldn’t make weight or – I don’t think that any of us are privy to what actually happened that night. I don’t know why he pulled out of the card or why he didn’t fight, and I don’t think any of us are 100 percent sure, but I know it does not make the UFC happy.
“If it’s a serious injury, then obviously there’s nothing they can do about it. But they’re propping you up to fight this big fight and then you can’t make weight like that, that’s a huge problem. That’s something you cannot do in this sport at the highest level. They put a lot of money, a lot of time, resources into promoting these fights, and if you f*ck it up like that, they’re going to be pissed off. Then he head butts Dan Hooker on the scale. That’s also something you cannot do. He risked also losing another fight the day before the big fight.”
Tsarukyan has kept active by notching several wins in grappling and wrestling matches ever since submitting Hooker at UFC Fight Night 265 this past November.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Justin Gaethje points finger at Arman Tsarukyan for UFC title snub
