Just like he does every year, UFC lightweight contender Paddy Pimblett entered the Next Generation MMA Liverpool grappling tournament to close out 2025. But unlike last year, “The Baddy” was defeated in the final match, tapping to a calf slicer applied by teammate and jiu-jitsu black belt, Aaron Jordan.
No. 1-ranked Arman Tsarukyan was not impressed.
“Is this the trash can that said he can out grapple me?” Tsarukyan wrote on X, followed by a laughing-face emoji.
Tsarukyan has beef with the lightweight “punching bag” after UFC went full WWE.
Pimblett will look to capture the interim lightweight strap by defeating Justin Gaethje atop the UFC 324 fight card on Jan. 24 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The winner is expected to unify the 155-pound titles against Ilia Topuria later this year, once “El Matador” handles his personal business (and upcoming court case).
Tsarukyan had his shot at the lightweight crown in early 2025 but failed to make it to the scale.
