‘He sucks’ – Arman Tsarukyan calls out Conor McGregor before blasting Paddy Pimblett as unworthy UFC title contender

Nov 26, 2025 - 19:15

Arman Tsarukyan would be open to fighting Conor McGregor, but claims Paddy Pimblett is not on his level.

Tsarukyan proved he’s the second-best lightweight in the UFC last weekend by choking out Dan Hooker in the main event of UFC Qatar.

Arman Tsarukyan of Georgia secures an arm triangle choke submission against Dan Hooker of New Zealand in a lightweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at ABHA Arena on November 22, 2025 in Doha, Qatar — Tsarukyan finished Hooker with an arm triangle in round two to hold his spot as the No. 1 contender at lightweight

Arman Tsarukyan of Georgia reacts after a submission victory against Dan Hooker of New Zealand in a lightweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at ABHA Arena on November 22, 2025 in Doha, Qatar — He boasts a professional MMA record of 23-3, having lost just twice in 12 UFC bouts

Through his win, the 29-year-old put his name in pole position for a shot at dethroning lightweight king Ilia Topuria.

Tsarukyan said that fighting Topuria for the lightweight title is all he wants next.

But if he doesn’t get it, a clash with former UFC two-division champion McGregor would be the only bout that could change his mind.

Arman Tsarukyan would only face Conor McGregor if not awarded Ilia Topuria title fight

“No way,” Tsarukyan told UFC commentator Daniel Cormier when asked if he would accept a fight before facing Topuria for the title.

He did, however, add that his stance would change if the fight were against McGregor.

“If it’s not Conor McGregor, I wouldn’t fight [anyone but Topuria].

“[But McGregor will] never fight me, and the UFC would never let me fight Conor McGregor — it’s a nightmare for him.”

Tsarukyan then said the same applies to Pimblett amid rumours of the Liverpudlian fighting Topuria.

Pimblett dominated Michael Chandler in his last fight at UFC 314 and has since been calling for a crack at bitter rival Topuria‘s title.

“How many people destroyed Michael Chandler?” Tsarukyan added, playing down Pimblett’s last UFC win in April.

UFC Lightweight Rankings

Ilia Topuria (c)

Arman Tsarukyan
Charles Oliveira
Max Holloway
Justin Gaethje
Paddy Pimblett
Dan Hooker
Mateusz Gamrot
Benoit Saint Denis
Rafael Fiziev
Renato Moicano
Michael Chandler
Beneil Dariush
Grant Dawson
Mauricio Ruffy
Ignacio Bahamondes

“[Pimblett] is a nobody… they wanted to make him a superstar, he had good fights, but he’s not an elite fighter — there are levels.

“Paddy couldn’t even beat [Charles] Oliveira, Hooker, [Dustin] Poirier, [Justin] Gaethje, [Max] Holloway, or me.

“If he even beat Gaethje, I’d say, ‘This guy is good,’ [I don’t think he’s good] he sucks.”

Cormier then made the point that Pimblett is a great grappler and massive for his weight class.

He referenced Pimblett’s fight with King Green at UFC 304 in July 2024, where ‘The Baddy’ scored a first-round Performance of the Night submission victory.

Paddy Pimblett submits Michael Chandler at UFC 314 — Pimblett left Chandler bloodied and bruised at UFC 314 in his quest for a title shot

But Tsarukyan clearly disagreed.

“My brother has never trained MMA,” Tsarukyan responded, talking about Green.

“I swear, if they were in a street fight, my brother would kill him so easily.”

Tsarukyan concluded by saying that he can beat Topuria in any way if the lightweight stars ever came to blows.

This wasn’t the first time the Armenian fighter has fired shots in Pimblett’s direction.

In July, Tsarukyan said that Pimblett should be removed from the lightweight rankings after the pair traded verbal blows.

Both he and Pimblett hope to be next in line for Topuria, with a lightweight title bout expected to feature in one of the UFC’s first numbered cards in the promotion’s $7.7 billion broadcast deal with Paramount+.