Pimblett On Tsarukyan's Title Shot After Ruffy Win

Paddy Pimblett said he will accept a fight against any lightweight the UFC puts in front of him, even as he questioned Arman Tsarukyan's credentials for a title shot.

The Liverpudlian voiced frustration with Tsarukyan's placement in the queue after the Armenian stopped Mauricio Ruffy earlier this month. Pimblett noted that Ruffy entered that bout ranked seventh, while he himself just beat the fifth-ranked Benoit Saint-Denis. "I've just beat ranked [No] 5, so since UFC 300, he hasn't beat anyone ranked higher than I've beat in over two years, but somehow, he's next for the title?" Pimblett said, per Bloody Elbow.

Pimblett's Lightweight Title Path

Despite the complaint, Pimblett insisted he would not turn down any assignment. "I'll just fight whoever's name gets put on a contract to me. I don't turn down any fights," he told BJ Penn.com. He rattled off potential opponents without hesitation. "If Arman gets offered to me, I'll fight him. If Ilia gets offered to me, I'll fight him. If Charles [Oliveira], if Justin, I'll fight anyone. I don't care."

Justin Gaethje currently holds the lightweight belt and is expected to defend against either Tsarukyan or featherweight champion Ilia Topuria. Pimblett has traded barbs with Topuria in recent weeks, accusing the Georgian of glove tampering allegations against Gaethje.

The UFC has not announced Pimblett's next opponent or a timeline for his return to the cage.

Reported via:

• BJPenn — Paddy Pimblett is open to fighting ‘anyone’ in UFC’s lightweight division