High light-weight contender Arman Tsarukyan solidified his place on the high of the 155-pound division with a second-round submission win over No. 6 ranked Dan Hooker within the UFC Qatar essential occasion final Saturday.
Tsarukyan earned a ‚Efficiency of the Night time‘ bonus for the end and believes he additionally punched his ticket to a title shot towards champion Ilia Topuria. However the battle promotion could produce other plans. Topuria and No. 5 ranked Paddy Pimblett have historical past and a storyline.
„It is 100% acquired to be me. No method they may give Paddy Pimblett that battle,“ Tsarukyan mentioned throughout an look on The Ariel Helwani Present. „All people going to snort at them as a result of I am the No. 1 contender. I proved it once more. What do they need from me, you realize? I went there, carried out, simply destroy Dan Hooker, they usually need to put the man who’s pretend making rank?“
Pimblett and Topuria’s feud dates again years. It started from on-line feedback by Pimblett about Topuria’s countrymen. That led to a bodily altercation on the fighter resort in London throughout UFC Battle Night time 204 battle week in March 2022. The 2 practically got here to blows on the UFC 282 Press Convention later that 12 months. Storylines typically instances promote fights, however Tsarukyan scoffed on the considered Pimblett deserving a title shot.
Associated: Paddy Pimblett warns Arman Tsarukyan and Ilia Topuria, takes intention at ‚correct b*tch‘ Justin Gaethje
„How one can beat like a No. 12, or No. 13 and have become No. 5? I used to be beating all people in our division,“ Tsarukyan mentioned. „I used to be on a 5 or 6 win streak to get within the High 15. This man simply beats six folks and like he is No. 5,“ Tsarukyan mentioned. „Hopefully it is a title battle subsequent.“
„It needs to be me. No matter they need to do. Their plan was possibly that I’ll wrestle with Dan Hooker they usually might push me on the again and say, ‚hey hear, you barely received (towards) Dan Hooker, you have to wait.‘ However now they can not say something as a result of the No. 1 contender is right here. I confirmed up in Qatar to indicate all people a masterclass. Hopefully it is me,“ Tsarukyan continued. „Not hopefully. It is imagined to be me.“
