Ariel Helwani has sounded off at the UFC for booking an interim lightweight title fight between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett as the UFC 324 headliner, in Ilia Topuria’s absence.
Helwani pointed out Arman Tsarukyan’s exclusion. Tsarukyan, the number-one-ranked 155-pounder, most recently secured a dominant submission victory against Dan Hooker. The Armenian fighter wanted a title shot in January 2026, but has been denied. His situation is complicated by Dana White’s declaration that Topuria and the winner of the UFC 324 main event will square off in a title unification bout later next year.