Paddy Pimblett Rips Arman Tsarukyan’s Wrestling After UFC 331
Lightweight contender Paddy Pimblett questioned Arman Tsarukyan’s wrestling pedigree following UFC 331 on Sept. 19 in Los Angeles, arguing that Tsarukyan struggled against Mauricio Ruffy before securing a late first-round knockout.
Assessing the Striking Damage and Grappling Deficits at UFC 331
Mauricio Ruffy, holding a 14-3 record, caught Tsarukyan early with a clean right hand that severely compromised Tsarukyan’s vision. However, Pimblett asserted on his YouTube channel that Tsarukyan looked poor prior to the finish and could not secure early takedowns against Ruffy.
“His wrestling isn’t as good as he thinks it is,” Pimblett stated on his channel, as reported by Sherdog and syndicated via NewsBreak. “His eye’s mashed up off that one right hand. I would have liked to see how that fight went on, ’cause he couldn’t get Ruffy down.” Pimblett admitted he wished the bout had extended past the opening frame to test how Tsarukyan’s conditioning and grappling would hold up over a scheduled five-round duration.
Title Picture and Division Contenders
Tsarukyan’s knockout victory earned him a Performance of the Night bonus, praise from UFC CEO Dana White, and a firm grip on the division’s number-one contender status. Yet, the lightweight landscape remains crowded with multiple elite fighters gunning for the title currently held by Justin Gaethje. Alongside Tsarukyan, both Paddy Pimblett and former champion Ilia Topuria are actively campaigning for championship opportunities and rematches following past losses to Gaethje.
Disclaimer: The insights provided in this article are for informational and entertainment purposes only and do not constitute medical advice or sports betting recommendations.