Paddy Pimblett has continued to torment every lightweight in the division.
The Scouse MMA star has had no shortage of run-ins with the best of the division, including his Octagon confrontation with Ilia Topuria, as he inserted himself into the title picture following his dominant stoppage victory over Michael Chandler.
However, ‘The Baddy’ has been at odds with the second-ranked contender, Arman Tsarukyan, exchanging words on interviews with the Armenian claiming Pimblett should be deleted from the rankings.
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
‘El Matador, though, has not helped his title situation, claiming he’d rather give up the belt than face Tsarukyan, which drew criticism from a UFC legend.
Paddy Pimblett goes in on ‘posh boy’ Arman Tsarukyan and UFC champion Ilia Topuria
Liverpool’s UFC star has once again fired back on social media with a new video posted to his channel, where he cleared the air on who and when he was going to fight next, not without multiple shots aimed at the champion.
On his next fight, he said: “I have no idea. Hopefully, it is gonna be me versus the chorizo (Ilia) next.
“I think that’s what all the Americans want, because every American I bump into keeps saying: ‘When are you gonna smash that sausage’s head in?’”
Their feud began before the Spaniard had his hands on the championship belt when they had a heated altercation in a hotel lobby, where hand sanitizer was thrown, before the London Fight Night between Tom Aspinall and Alexander Volkov.
His tirade did not end there, with most of the venom saved for rival ‘Ahalkalakets’, whom he snubbed as a potential opponent.
“I understand that I am ranked number nine or something, so other people probably are more deserving,” Paddy said.
“But posh boy definitely isn’t; little rich boy Arman, showing how desperate he is, offering another £1m to fight (Topuria). Spoilt, rich baby, trying to pay their way out of things.”
The MMA fighter even referred to the 28-year-old pulling out of the UFC 311 main event in January against Islam Makachev after suffering a back injury during a weight cut.
He exclaimed: “That’s why he quit when he was making weight in the bath like a little b- – -h. Arman’s irrelevant, no one cares about him.”
Paddy Pimblett dismisses UFC star he ‘used to like’
While the 30-year-old has been focused on a title showdown with his rival, the Gaethje fight was still of interest to him over any other lightweight.
However, ‘The Highlight’ has said in interviews that he does not want to fight the UK fighter; he only has eyes on the division’s top prize.
Another man vying for his place is Dan Hooker, who blasted a title shot for the UK fighter as a ‘p- – – t- – -’, which Pimblett did not take kindly.
He said: “I seen Dan Hooker talking s- – – the other day as well. I used to like Dan Hooker. Now you can eat s- – -.”
Lightweight has become a division to keep an eye on with the depth of talent looking to dethrone a dominant champion.