The controversial faceoff between Paddy Pimblett and Ilia Topuria inside the crowded Octagon at UFC 317 in Las Vegas last weekend sparked criticism from several fighters and officials. UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan has directly blamed commentator Joe Rogan for the disorder, calling the incident a mistake that should have been avoided during the post-fight celebration of the lightweight title.
Unplanned Interaction Sparks Conflict After UFC 317
The confrontation unfolded shortly after Ilia Topuria, dubbed “El Matador,” claimed the lightweight championship at UFC 317. Amid the excitement, Pimblett entered the Octagon uninvited, leading to a tense and chaotic scene that caught many by surprise. UFC CEO Dana White expressed disapproval, stating the faceoff should never have taken place inside the cage.
Arman Tsarukyan, ranked No. 2 among lightweights and the official backup fighter for the event, pointed to Joe Rogan as responsible for calling Pimblett into the Octagon. Speaking with Daniel Cormier, Tsarukyan said,
“It was a Joe Rogan mistake. Joe Rogan called him. It was a Joe Rogan mistake, and he shouldn’t even call his name and bring him to the Octagon. He called out Paddy to come to the Octagon. I was surprised, but when Dana said, ‘It shouldn’t be like that,’ I said, okay, hopefully he’s not fighting for the title.”
Contender Expresses Frustration Over Promotion’s Direction
Tsarukyan, who missed a previous chance to fight for the lightweight belt at UFC 311, conveyed deep dissatisfaction with the situation. Labeling the incident as more theatrical than sporting, he remarked,
“For 20, 30 minutes I was, of course, upset, because I said, ‘This is not sport, this is WWE.’ They can do whatever they want to do.”
He further expressed his belief that he deserves the next title shot, stating,
“They must put me on the title because I’m No. 1 contender, most deserving fighter right now. After me, they can fight. But next it’s me, for sure.”
Claims About Topuria’s Wrestling Ability
Tsarukyan also questioned Topuria’s ability against wrestlers of his level, highlighting his own freestyle wrestling background. He said,
“[Topuria] never fought with wrestlers like me, who know freestyle wrestling. Bryce Mitchell, as the worst fighter at 145, he took him down and held him. He got his single-leg and even he took him down, and he couldn’t escape. He was pulling guard. If you’re good on the ground, you never pull guard. You’re trying to sweep or get up from there. I can tell he’s not high level.”
Future Implications for Lightweight Title Contention
With rising tensions between Topuria and Pimblett, and the controversy surrounding their faceoff, the UFC may leverage this rivalry for Topuria’s first title defense. Meanwhile, Tsarukyan remains poised to claim the next shot at the belt, pending an official announcement from the promotion, which fans and analysts expect in the coming weeks.