![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1768365730_454_poster-fallback.png\"\/)
<\/p>\n
The fight headlines the UFC\u2019s first card under its massive seven-year, $7.7 billion broadcast deal \u2013 and the decision to slot Pimblett and Gaethje over Tsarukyan has caused a stir, leaving the Armenian star watching from the sidelines while two lower-ranked fighters leapfrog him for a shot at the title.<\/p>\n
\u201cArman talks s**t,\u201d Pimblett told Fox Sports Australia.<\/p>\n
\u201cTake no notice of what Arman says. He\u2019s just a cry-baby who has had everything handed to him on a silver platter his whole life because of daddy\u2019s money and he expects the same with the UFC.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt doesn\u2019t work like that. I\u2019d love to punch his face in for him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Looking ahead, Pimblett has his sights set on future champions. <\/p>\n
In November, Ilia Topuria revealed he would step away from MMA to deal with personal matters, but last week confirmed he intends to fight the winner of Gaethje vs. Pimblett in 2026.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I win the belt I want Topuria,\u201d Pimblett said.<\/p>\n
LAS VEGAS, NV – DECEMBER 10: Paddy Pimblett battles Jared Gordon in their Lightweight fight during the UFC 282 event at T-Mobile Arena on December 10, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. (Photo by Louis Grasse\/PxImages\/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to unify it. I want to beat the champion to become the undisputed champion.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will see what happens. But if not him, Arman \u2013 shut that little posh fart up.<\/p>\n
\u201cOr, the winner of Max [Holloway] and Charles [Oliveira].<\/p>\n
\u201cTwo legends going at it there \u2013 I\u2019d love to fight another legend.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pimblett has also been embroiled in a public spat with Kiwi lightweight veteran Dan Hooker, whom he described as \u201can absolute crab,\u201d and admitted he\u2019d love to fight him down the line.<\/p>\n
The Brit is known more for his grappling skills than stand-up, but insists he will be trading shots with \u2018The Highlight\u2019 in the centre of the Octagon this weekend.<\/p>\n
And he claims he\u2019s uncovered more than a few ways to finish the man Joe Rogan dubbed \u2018the most violent man in the most violent sport in the world\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s your favourite fighter\u2019s favourite fighter,\u201d Pimblett said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love watching Justin Gaethje fight. He\u2019s one of the most entertaining fighters on the planet.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut when you watch him as a fan it\u2019s different.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve obviously had to study him a bit lately and it\u2019s crazy how much he gets hit. And it\u2019s crazy how much he puts himself in danger.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m going to exploit that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gaethje isn\u2019t just one of the most exciting MMA fighters on the planet \u2013 he\u2019s also one of the hardest hitters in the game. <\/p>\n
But that doesn\u2019t faze \u201cThe Baddy\u201d in the slightest.<\/p>\n
\u201cI will stand with him,\u201d he insisted.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust like I stood with Michael Chandler, just like I stood with Bobby Green. Everybody said that I wouldn\u2019t and I stood with both of them.<\/p>\n
\u201cI also forced Michael Chandler and Bobby Green to try and take me down.<\/p>\n
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – APRIL 12: Justin Gaethje stands on the scale during the UFC 300 ceremonial weigh-in at MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 12, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Carmen Mandato\/Getty Images\/AFP (Photo by Carmen Mandato \/ GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA \/ Getty Images via AFP)Source: AFP<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll be honest, I think Justin Gaethje is going to take me down – well, try and take me down.\u201d<\/p>\n
So convinced is Pimblett of his edge that he doesn\u2019t see the bout reaching the championship rounds.<\/p>\n
\u201cI will finish him within three,\u201d he declared.<\/p>\n
Outside the cage, Pimblett has taken control of his famously fluctuating weight, even after once tipping the scales at 90kg — roughly 20kg above his division. <\/p>\n
With a new nutritionist and a disciplined camp, he\u2019s never felt better.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy weight is in a perfect place at the minute,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cEverything has gone so smoothly.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel the sharpest I\u2019ve ever felt \u2013- I don\u2019t have any niggles at all.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt sounds very cliche, but this is the best camp I\u2019ve ever had.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Paddy \u201cThe Baddy\u201d Pimblett has lashed out at \u2018cry-baby\u2019 Arman Tsarukyan ahead of this weekend\u2019s UFC 324 blockbuster.…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":424791,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[570],"tags":[64,63,786,785,85],"class_list":{"0":"post-424790","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-mma","8":"tag-au","9":"tag-australia","10":"tag-fighting","11":"tag-mma","12":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/424790","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=424790"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/424790\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/424791"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=424790"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=424790"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=424790"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}