UFC is hoping to bring some love back to United Kingdom.
That’s according to former middleweight champion Luke Rockhold, who is not impressed by the promotion’s efforts to suppress No. 1-ranked lightweight contender, Arman Tsarukyan, in favor of No. 5-ranked, Paddy Pimblett. With “Ahalkalakets” in the doghouse, “The Baddy” will fight for the interim title opposite Justin Gaethje at UFC 324 next month in Las Vegas.
The winner will move on to unify the titles against the M.I.A. Ilia Topuria.
“I think they’re trying to do anything they can to put little Paddy into a title situation,” Rockhold told Submission Radio. “I’m annoyed with fighters that think that the interim title means anything. You see guys like Justin Gaethje, and he knows it. None of that sh*t really means much to him because he wants to be a real champion, but then you’ve got Paddy, who’s already talking about, ‘I’m going to be champion,’ this, that. It’s already there. That belt means something to him. Come on.”
UK was flying high for a hot minute, with Leon Edwards and Tom Aspinall holding championship titles. Edwards surrendered the strap to Belal Muhammad at UFC 304 while Aspinall was benched indefinitely with a severe eye injury — the second time he’s been sidelined after previously playing the waiting game with Jon Jones.
“They’re doing anything they can to get Paddy the best matchups to be a champion and bring that love back to the UK,” Rockhold added. “I don’t know, it’s not my favorite. Arman’s a beast. Look what he’s doing in grappling right now and how he’s just destroying these guys. It’s not easy and how he translates it to fighting, he’s a problem for everybody.”
Including Lance Palmer, who faces Tsarukyan at RAF05 on Jan. 10 in Sunrise.
