At the UFC Qatar main event, Arman Tsarukyan defended his #1 lightweight contender ranking with a dominant second-round submission over Dan Hooker. With that victory, many expected him to face Ilia Topuria next, possibly in 2026, but Dana White’s UFC 324 announcement of Paddy Pimblett vs Justin Gaethje for the interim title showed that Tsarukyan isn’t in their plans. Now, the UFC CEO has made his path even tougher, showing little concern for the Armenian’s top contender status.

“I wouldn’t say that he’s the odd man out. He had an opportunity, and you guys know how that played out. He’s gonna have to work his way back. I don’t give a s—t what the number says. He’s gonna have to work his way back. It’s just too much goes into this for those type of things to happen,” Dana White said at the UFC 323 post-fight presser. 

For long-time fans of the sport, Dana White’s latest comments shouldn’t come as a surprise. When Arman Tsarukyan pulled out of the UFC 311 title fight against Islam Makhachev, the UFC CEO said almost the same thing about the Armenian needing to climb his way back to a title shot. However, after Tsarukyan dominated Hooker in Qatar, many believed the head honcho would finally change his stance, but his position stayed exactly the same.

“We were talking back in my room tonight all the crazy s—t that happened over the last 20-something years, but you can’t do that. You can get the opportunity, but it can’t end that way. So he’s gotta work his way back.” White added.   

Now, the situation has become even trickier for Arman Tsarukyan because he doesn’t have many exciting fights available right away. Paddy Pimblett and Justin Gaethje will fight for the interim belt at UFC 324, and the winner will meet Ilia Topuria next. Tsarukyan’s dream matchup with Max Holloway also collapsed since Holloway will defend the BMF title against Charles Oliveira at UFC 326.

With those options gone, Tsarukyan either has to wait for the loser of one of those matchups or take a fight against Mateusz Gamrot instead. Facing the Polish contender would keep him active, and ‘Akhalkalakets’ would also get the chance to avenge his 2022 loss. So yes, there are still ways for him to work his way back into Dana White’s good graces.

However, while Tsarukyan figures out his path back to title contention, his rivalry with Paddy Pimblett is heating up fast. 

Paddy Pimblett downplays Arman Tsarukyan’s recent victory  

The Armenian’s performance against Dan Hooker was definitely impressive and almost flawless, but many still don’t rank that win very highly. Why? Because a lot of people believed the Kiwi wasn’t real competition to begin with, pointing to his issues in the grappling department. Even in their UFC Qatar showdown, Hooker locked in a guillotine choke on Tsarukyan but still couldn’t finish it.

So, Paddy Pimblett, one of the frontline critics of the #1 lightweight, decided to downplay Tsarukyan’s victory. He argued that if ‘The Hangman’ got that close to finishing him, then there’s no way Tsarukyan deserves the top spot.

“You can understand why he’s not in that position, and as much as I like Dan Hooker, he’s sound. He can’t grapple to save his life, he can’t grapple if his mam’s life depended on it. If I had that guillotine on Arman, he’s going unconscious. If Dan Hooker is nearly guillotining you, you’re s— at jits.” ‘The Baddy’ told FullSend in a recent interview.

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Now, the Liverpudlian has taken multiple shots at the Armenian, even leaving the door open for a possible fight in 2026. But with the lightweight division shifting fast, Pimblett would clearly aim for Ilia Topuria if he wins the interim belt on January 24 instead of settling his beef with Tsarukyan.

That said, what do you think about how Arman Tsarukyan’s career will pan out in the lightweight division? Let us know in the comments section below.