UFC star Paddy 'The Baddy' Pimblett has broken his silence with a brutal three-word jibe aimed at rival Arman Tsarukyan, following a major fight announcement that has sent shockwaves through the mixed martial arts world.
The Stunning UFC 324 Main Event
On Thursday evening, UFC CEO Dana White confirmed that Liverpool's own Paddy Pimblett will face Justin Gaethje in the main event of UFC 324 on January 24 in Las Vegas. The blockbuster showdown will be for the interim lightweight title, a necessary move after current champion Ilia Topuria revealed he would be unable to defend his belt in the first quarter of 2026 due to personal reasons.
Rather than putting the entire division on hold, the UFC decided to create an interim championship, setting the stage for a mouth-watering clash between two of the sport's most exciting fighters. However, the choice of opponents left many in the MMA community stunned.
The Snub That Sparked a Feud
The decision proved particularly controversial for Arman Tsarukyan, the current number one ranked lightweight contender. The 29-year-old Armenian fighter seemed to have earned his shot at the gold after a dominant submission victory over Dan Hooker just last weekend in Qatar.
Following that win, Tsarukyan used his post-fight interview to call out the champion, stating, "The only guy who wanted to fight me. Everybody is running, especially Ilia. There is only one contender and number one is Arman Tsarukyan."
Despite his strong positioning and impressive record of only two losses since joining the UFC in 2019, Tsarukyan was passed over for the interim title shot. His frustration was palpable when he took to social media after the announcement, simply posting, "Make it make sense."
Pimblett's Savage Social Media Dig
Not one to miss an opportunity, Paddy Pimblett quickly seized the moment to take a swipe at his snubbed rival. The Liverpudlian fighter uploaded a post to X (formerly Twitter) directed squarely at Tsarukyan, containing just three words: "You like apples? @ArmanUfc".
This is not the first time Pimblett has verbally targeted Tsarukyan. Back in July, 'The Baddy' did not hold back when comparing a potential fight with Gaethje versus one with the Armenian contender.
"Arman's a very good fighter, but no one cares about him," Pimblett stated at the time. "People just look at him and think, 'Yeah, you s*** yourself before fighting Islam [Makhachev].'... Everyone knows Justin Gaethje is a f****** banger... He's a legend, Arman isn't."
While Pimblett might have preferred a direct shot at Topuria's undisputed title, the interim belt represents a massive opportunity. The Liverpool native hasn't fought since his knockout victory over Michael Chandler in April, and a win against Gaethje would position him as the undeniable next challenger for Topuria upon the champion's return.
The stage is now set for a dramatic start to 2026, with Pimblett's journey toward UFC gold taking an unexpected turn, and his rivalry with Tsarukyan reaching new levels of intensity.
