Pimblett dismisses Tsarukyan's wrestling after UFC 331 knockout win over Ruffy

Paddy Pimblett has taken aim at Arman Tsarukyan’s wrestling ability despite the Armenian’s first-round knockout of Mauricio Ruffy in the co-main event of UFC 331 on 19 September in Los Angeles — a performance that earned Tsarukyan a Performance of the Night bonus and public praise from Dana White.

Tsarukyan (24-3) appeared to be in trouble early when Ruffy (14-3) landed a clean right hand that visibly damaged his eye. The lightweight contender recovered his composure, worked his way into the clinch, and ended the contest with a vicious elbow late in the first round, cementing his status as the No. 1 contender for the UFC lightweight title.

Pimblett, however, was far from convinced by what he saw. Speaking on his YouTube channel, “The Baddy” argued that Ruffy was ahead on the scorecards before the finish and that Tsarukyan’s inability to secure a takedown exposed a significant flaw in his game.

“As much as I don’t like it, that was a naughty elbow,” Pimblett said. “I think he looked pretty sh*t until that elbow. His eyes were messed up already. Wish he never landed that, just to see how the second and the third would have went… I think that showed holes in his game. His wrestling isn’t as good as he thinks it is. 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.”

The comments carry an obvious competitive edge. Pimblett, Tsarukyan, and former featherweight champion Ilia Topuria are all pursuing a shot at UFC lightweight king Justin Gaethje. Both Pimblett and Topuria have previously lost to Gaethje and have campaigned for rematches, while Tsarukyan’s win over Ruffy has placed him at the front of the queue as the division’s top-ranked contender.

With the lightweight title picture growing increasingly crowded, Pimblett’s public critique of Tsarukyan’s wrestling adds another layer of tension to a division already bristling with rivalries and unfinished business.