Paddy Pimblett Responds to Handouts Criticism | UFC News
Paddy Pimblett, following his UFC 314 win, ignited a feud with Arman Tsarukyan, who accused Pimblett of receiving “handouts” in his career. Pimblett swiftly fired back, dismissing Tsarukyan’s criticism by referencing Tsarukyan’s background and his withdrawal from a previous fight. The lightweight division is now buzzing with the war of words. This heated exchange highlights the tension within the UFC’s competitive lightweight rankings, where the top contenders are fiercely vying for title shots. News Directory 3 has the latest on the ongoing drama. Discover what’s next for these fighters and the potential matchups looming ahead.
Paddy Pimblett Fires Back at Arman Tsarukyan Over ‘Handout’ Claims
Updated May 31, 2025
Paddy Pimblett, fresh off a victory at UFC 314, has set his sights on the lightweight division’s elite, including Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje. Though,Arman Tsarukyan,the No. 1 contender at 155 pounds, has also called out “The Baddy,” sparking a war of words.
Tsarukyan’s interest in fighting Pimblett has been met with lukewarm enthusiasm from the Brit. The exchange escalated after Pimblett expressed interest in facing Gaethje in Abu Dhabi, prompting Tsarukyan to question the legitimacy of pimblett’s UFC career.
Pimblett responded to Tsarukyan’s remarks on X, formerly Twitter, alluding to Tsarukyan’s privileged background. He also referenced Tsarukyan’s withdrawal from his scheduled rematch against Islam Makhachev at UFC 311, citing a back injury.
It was obvious you were talking trash with zero intention of backing it up. Your UFC career is built on handouts, hype, and shortcuts to the top. https://t.co/N1uI7km3Ao
—Arman Tsarukyan Ufc (@armanufc) May 30, 2025
Rich boy talking about handouts🤣you’ve been handed everything on a silver platter ur whole life by daddy u 🤡never said I wudnt fight you its just nobody cares about you after pulling out against Islam as of a “back injury” we all know u was menstruating really u sausage🤣 https://t.co/y8l908wTur
— Paddy Pimblett (@PaddyTheBaddy) May 31, 2025
Tsarukyan’s position as the top lightweight contender is somewhat precarious. his withdrawal from UFC 311 necessitates another victory to solidify his title shot aspirations. However, with Pimblett possibly facing Gaethje, Tsarukyan’s options appear limited.
| Ranking | Fighter | Current Fight Booked |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Arman Tsarukyan | Not Booked |
| #2 | Charles Oliveira | Ilia Topuria – UFC 317 |
| #3 | Justin Gaethje | Not Booked |
| #4 | Max Holloway | dustin Poirier – UFC 318 |
| #5 | Dustin Poirier | Max Holloway – UFC 318 |
| #6 | Dan Hooker | Not Booked |
| #7 | Mateusz Gamrot | L’udovit Klein – UFC Vegas 107 |
| #8 | Paddy Pimblett | Not Booked |
| #9 | Beneil Dariush | Renato Moicano – UFC 317 |
| #10 | Renato Moicano | Beneil Dariush – UFC 317 |
What’s next
A potential matchup between Tsarukyan and Dan Hooker could be on the horizon, given their history. The loser of the Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira fight at UFC 317 also presents another option for Tsarukyan as he seeks to re-establish his claim for a title shot in the competitive lightweight division.