Arman Tsarukyan recently explained why the UFC wouldn’t make Ilia Topuria vs. Paddy Pimblett.

The Armenian sat down with the Deep Waters crew and played matchmaker for the UFC lightweight division. While suggesting that himself vs. Justin Gaethje makes sense, he went on to add that he would personally like Topuria vs. Pimblett as well.

Arman Tsarukyan (Image: @arm_011/Instagram)

When interrupted by Dustin Poirier, who asked if that would be the fight the “UFC is gonna make,” Tsarukyan claimed that the promotion wouldn’t, before going on to explain why he thinks the same. He said:

They’re not going to do this fight because…they don’t want Paddy [Pimblett] to lose, they don’t want Ilia [Topuria] to lose. They are gonna give someone easy to Ilia.

Check out Arman Tsarukyan’s comments below:

Ranked number 2 in the lightweight division, Tsarukyan last fought Dan Hooker back in November 2025. He is set to take on Mauricio Ruffy next in the co-main event of UFC 331 at the Crypto.com Arena later this month.

‘Batman’ was expected to face Charles Oliveira, who pulled out due to the death of his close friend (and UFC fighter) Allan Nascimento.

Arman Tsarukyan Feels ‘This’ UFC vet is an easy fight for Paddy Pimblett

Arman Tsarukyan then went on to name an easy fight for Paddy Pimblett in the lightweight division. He picked former featherweight champ Max Holloway as someone the Liverpudlian would get past easily.

Arman Tsarukyan and Paddy Pimblett [Images via @theufcbaddy and @arm_011 on Instagram]

Despite the Deep Waters panel claiming that Holloway wouldn’t be an easy fight for Pimblett, Tsarukyan said:

I think he can beat Max Holloway…If you see Max’s wrestling, it’s nothing, Paddy at least can take him down.

Tsarukyan then went on to refute Dustin Poirier’s claim that Holloway has good ‘technical wrestling.’ The 29-year-old quipped:

He used to. He used to have, not anymore.

Gerard Crispin

Gerard Crispin is an editor and writer with expertise across MMA, Football, Tennis, Cricket, NBA and F1. He has published over 3500 articles in Combat Sports, across multiple websites, viz. Sportskeeda, FanSided MMA, MediaReferee, FirstSportz and PFSN. Crispin currently covers UFC for LowKickMMA.