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Paddy Pimblett criticizes Arman Tsarukyan’s lack of activity, tells him to stop ‘tickling people’ in RAF

Published

3 weeks ago

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Paddy Pimblett criticizes Arman Tsarukyan’s lack of activity, tells him to stop ‘tickling people’ in RAF

Paddy Pimblett can put himself directly back in title contention with a win over Benoit Saint Denis at UFC 329, especially after engaging in a five-round war with future lightweight champion Justin Gaethje back in January.

Despite the loss, Pimblett proved he could hang with the best of the best at 155 pounds and considering he survived 25 minutes with Gaethje while Ilia Topuria couldn't make it past the fourth round just adds another checkmark in his column. That said, Pimblett has openly stated that he knows it's probably going to take a win on Saturday and at least one more before the UFC would put him back in there against Gaethje again.

As far as other viable contenders for the belt, Pimblett scoffed at the suggestion that Arman Tsarukyan should be considered for that title shot after he's been out of action since October 2025 with no end in sight to his lengthy layoff.

“He needs to fight,†Pimblett said during UFC 329 media day on Wednesday. “He's had like one fight in three years and he beat an absolute bum. He needs to actually fight. Not go around in a singlet tickling people.â€

Of course, Pimblett referenced Tsarukyan's most recent win, which came against Dan Hooker in a lopsided performance for his fifth victory in a row overall. He also took aim at Tsarukyan's biggest activity happening in RAF rather than the UFC where he's become a mainstay in the freestyle wrestling promotion.

In fact, Tsarukyan is set to compete on Saturday at an RAF event in Georgia before returning to the United States for a showdown against Colby Covington one week later in Milwaukee. But none of those matches are happening in the UFC, which is Pimblett's biggest frustration with Tsarukyan whenever he's mentioned as a top contender at lightweight.

“[Fight] anyone. Just fight someone,†Pimblett said to Tsarukyan. “Get in the octagon and actually fight. Stop going around on your private jet eating food.â€

When it comes to his own fight, Pimblett is confident he'll dispatch Saint Denis on Saturday and take the necessary step forward to eventually clash with Gaethje again in the future.

Pimblett said he learned a valuable lesson from that first fight — ‘don't go to war with Justin Gaethje' — but he also knows there were mitigating factors that were working against him that night.

“I'm not going to use it as an excuse but the eye poke did change the fight in a big way,†Pimblett said. “The damage on my face was from an eye poke right hand.

“It wasn't just an eye poke. I felt his thumb touch my brain. So it was a bit heavy. I couldn't see for about two rounds after it.â€

Still, Pimblett praised Gaethje for the win as well as going out there and beating Topuria to claim the undisputed title. Now he's just hoping he'll get a second crack at Gaethje in the near future.

“Obviously with him winning and becoming undisputed champion, it looks good for me,†Pimblett said. “I said after he beat me, I said he was going to beat Ilia Topuria. I said it was fate that he beat me. It was his destiny to win the title at the White House. I was just in the way.â€

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MMA

Dana White eyes Gervonta Davis signing after adding Shakur Stevenson

Published

28 minutes ago

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July 29, 2026

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Dana White eyes Gervonta Davis signing after adding Shakur Stevenson
Zuffa Boxing founder Dana
White hopes to add Gervonta Davis to the promotion’s growing
stable before potentially matching him up against Shakur
Stevenson.

Following Zuffa Boxing 9 in New York, White addressed the
possibility of booking a blockbuster showdown between Stevenson and
Davis, revealing that he has already held discussions with the
latter, having already signed the former.

Zuffa Boxing's Shakur Stevenson deal could lead to talks with
Gervonta Davis

White admitted that he has spoken to Davis and he's definitely
interested in working together in the future.

“I don't know [about booking Tank vs. Shakur],†White said. “I do
love Tank Davis. I'm actually a fan and we've talked to them. I
don't want to speak for him or whatever, but I have talked to him
and I'm a fan.â€

Stevenson recently signed a multi-fight deal with Zuffa Boxing,
immediately fueling speculation about potential marquee matchups
under the promotion’s banner. A clash with Davis has long been
regarded as one of boxing's biggest fights.

Davis has not competed since fighting Lamont Roach Jr. to a
controversial draw in March 2025. A proposed bout against Jake Paul was
later scrapped amid legal issues, though accusations of domestic
violence against “Tank†were ultimately dropped.

While White did not confirm any agreement with Davis, he reiterated
that Zuffa Boxing's goal remains to make the biggest fights
available.

“You can make these fights and we can only hope,†White said. “We
knew tonight's main event was going to be good, but you don't know
until it plays out. I'm looking to make all the big fights that are
out there.â€

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MMA

Dana White has a Conor McGregor return update fans won’t like

Published

4 hours ago

on

July 29, 2026

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Dana White has a Conor McGregor return update fans won’t like

Ultimate Fighting Championship CEO Dana White has shared a
timeline for Conor
McGregor's recovery following the Irish star's anticlimactic
return at
UFC 329.

McGregor's long-awaited comeback lasted just 69 seconds as the
former two-division champion suffered a knee injury in his rematch
against Max
Holloway with the first kick he threw. With one fight remaining
in his contract, “Notorious†has begun his rehabilitation and has
his sights set on his Octagon return. White has now weighed in on
when McGregor will be back.

Dana White updates Conor McGregor's UFC return after ACL and
meniscus injury

Days after losing to Holloway, McGregor revealed that he suffered
an ACL and meniscus injury. The Irishman later claimed that he's
targeting a return for the summer of 2027. Speaking to reporters
following Zuffa Boxing 9, White revealed that McGregor is expected
to be sidelined for a year.

McGregor recently shared a video on Instagram of his
rehabilitation, prompting speculation about his recovery. White has
now confirmed and reiterated the return timeline.

“I have no idea,†White said when asked about McGregor's Instagram
post. “We had him on FaceTime tonight, ringside, but you know,
Conor McGregor's out for a year.â€

McGregor is eyeing International Fight Week in 2027 for the final
bout of his UFC contract.


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MMA

Islam Makhachev claims he knows Ian Garry’s UFC 330 game plan

Published

7 hours ago

on

July 28, 2026

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Islam Makhachev claims he knows Ian Garry’s UFC 330 game plan
Islam
Makhachev believes he already knows Ian Garry's
strategy for their upcoming
Ultimate Fighting Championship title clash.

The reigning welterweight champion's first title defense will be
against Garry at UFC
330 on Aug. 15 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia and the
Russian says he has spent his entire training camp preparing for
his Irish counterpart's evasive, movement-heavy fighting style.

Islam Makhachev prepares for Ian Garry's movement-heavy style
ahead of UFC 330 welterweight title fight

Ahead of his title defense, Makhachev broke down the matchup and
Garry's skill set. The former lightweight champ claims he's
prepared to chase “The Future†in their upcoming bout, given how
the latter has mostly fought on the back foot.

“His skills: I just have to run in this camp too much because I
have to follow him,†Makhachev told MMA Fighting. “He runs too
much. I know his game plan. We always see his fights. He has the
same style always. I will try to catch him, take him down, just
what I did with my old opponents.â€

Garry has trained alongside former UFC lightweight champion
Charles
“Do Bronxs†Oliveira, who fought Makhachev for the 155-pound
title in 2022. However, Makhachev doesn’t believe his former
opponent has much advice to offer, especially considering he made
light work of the Brazilian, submitting him in the second round of
their clash.

“Charles is going to teach him how to tap fast. That’s it,â€
Makhachev added.

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