Paddy Pimblett questions if Arman Tsarukyan even wants to return to the Octagon at this point.

Pimblett is one of the top contenders in the 155-pound division, but he did slip a bit when he fell short in his bid for interim UFC gold against Justin Gaethje back in January. Tsarukyan is the general consensus No. 1 contender, but Pimblett isn’t so sure he should get the next lightweight title fight given his MMA inactivity.

While “The Baddy” doesn’t have a hunch on who will ultimately challenge Gaethje for the undisputed UFC Lightweight Championship, he explained why Tsarukyan may have taken himself out of contention during an interview with Brian Campbell for UFC on Paramount.

“I really don’t know,” Pimblett said. “I’ve seen [Gaethje] say in interviews before that he wants to get his revenge on Max [Holloway] and Charles [Oliveira] because they both beat him. So, it wouldn’t surprise me if Max wins. You never know, he could get it. But how does he just overstep Charles when Charles just dominated him for five rounds? Arman probably is the rightful No. 1 contender, but he doesn’t fight. He’s fought once in three years and beat a bum that they call Dan Hooker. He’s too busy doing wrestling matches. So, go and wrestle then, lad. You’re not a fighter no more.”

Pimblett will have an opportunity to get back in the win column on Saturday. He will meet Benoit Saint Denis on the UFC 329 card, which will be headlined by Conor McGregor’s return fight against Holloway. If “The Baddy” scores a win, he’ll hope to earn himself a possible title eliminator either later this year or some time in 2027.

Do you think Paddy Pimblett has a point about Arman Tsarukyan’s inactivity, or does the surging lightweight finally get out of the UFC doghouse to earn a title shot next? Sound off in the comments below.