‘It’s a garbage fight’: Matt Brown blasts UFC for Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett with Arman Tsarukyan left out
MMA Fighting • • sports
Key Points:
- Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett will fight for the interim lightweight championship in the UFC's first main event under its new $7.7 billion deal with Paramount, due to reigning champ Ilia Topuria sitting out early 2026 for personal reasons.
- Arman Tsarukyan, the true No. 1 contender, has been sidelined and overlooked for a title shot after a fight week injury canceled his planned bout with then-champion Islam Makhachev in January 2025, despite returning with a dominant win in November.
- Former UFC welterweight Matt Brown criticized the UFC for prioritizing entertainment over sport, arguing that Tsarukyan deserves the title shot over Gaethje or Pimblett,
