Mar 8, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Justin Gaethje (red gloves) reacts after fighting Rafael Fiziev (not pictured) during UFC 313 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

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UFC’s Lightweight Elite Refuse To Clash, Leaving Title Contention In Chaos!

Lightweight division stalemate deepens as top 3 fighters refuse to take on each other, leaving the champion without a solid contender!

Everyone in the lightweight division thinks they deserve the best treats, but nobody wants to do the work to earn them. This mess started when Ilia Topuria shocked the world by beating Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 to claim the lightweight crown. Now he sits at the top while a bunch of grown men argue about who gets to fight him next. What makes it worse is that none of these top contenders want to fight each other to prove they deserve the shot.

The division that once produced legendary wars has turned into a political nightmare. Back in the day, fighters would take any fight to climb the ladder. Now everyone has conditions, demands, and reasons why certain matchups don’t make sense for their careers. The result is a complete standstill where fans suffer and Topuria sits waiting for someone to step up. Three of the biggest names in the division are playing an expensive game of chicken, and none of them want to blink first.

Paddy Pimblett Wants A Justin Gaethje; Snubs Arman Tsarukyan

Paddy Pimblett thinks he’s figured out the perfect path to lightweight gold. The Liverpool fighter believes his star power trumps everything else in title contention. Talking to One on One MMA, Pimblett wants Justin Gaethje as his next fight. Pimblett knows that a scrap with Gaethje would be fireworks from start to finish. Both men love to throw hands and neither takes a backward step. From a pure entertainment standpoint, it makes perfect sense.

“Arman is a very good fighter, but no one cares about him, people just look at him and think you s-**t yourself to fighting Islam. “But Justin Gaethje is a f***ing banger, everyone knows if you are fighting Gaethje you are going to have a fight.”

But Arman Tsarukyan isn’t buying Paddy’s hype train for a second. The Armenian fighter has beaten Charles Oliveira and Beneil Dariush in back to back fights, proving he can hang with elite level competition. The fight between these two can happen. It is a real possibility if Justin Gaethje gets the nod to fight for the title.

Justin Gaethje’s Title Shot Ultimatum

Justin Gaethje has reached his breaking point with UFC politics and matchmaking games. The former interim champion firmly rejected a potential fight against Paddy Pimblett. Gaethje believes his resume speaks for itself after winning three of his last four fights, including memorable wars that left fans on their feet. He’s done playing the contender game and wants what he thinks he’s earned through years of violent entertainment.

“If they want me to take that route [Paddy], then I don’t believe they need me anymore. The champion was calling me to fight, they vacated the belt and gave the fight to a guy who was 2-2. So if their algorithm and math tell them to use me until I get beat, then I have to reevaluate what I’m doing here,” said Gaethje via ESPN MMA.

Justin Gaethje says UFC is using him if they book Paddy matchup👀😳

"If they want me to take that route [Paddy], then I don't believe they need me anymore. The champion was calling me to fight, they vacated the belt and gave the fight to a guy who was 2-2. So if their algorithm… pic.twitter.com/srIDyowmXr
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) July 23, 2025

Gaethje hinted at retirement if the UFC doesn’t give him the title shot. This ultimatum puts the UFC in a tough spot because Gaethje remains one of their most reliable action fighters. When ‘The Highlight’ steps into the octagon, something spectacular usually happens. But he’s tired of being the guy who makes other people look good without getting his shot at gold. His stance is simple: give him Topuria or he’s walking away from the sport.

Arman Tsarukyan Invokes Merit Based Arguments For UFC Rankings

Arman Tsarukyan represents everything that should matter in title contention. He has skill, wins over top competition, and a legitimate claim based on merit. But he’s learning that merit doesn’t always translate to opportunity in modern UFC politics. His criticism of Pimblett’s ranking goes beyond personal beef and touches on a larger problem with how the promotion builds contenders.

“You have got to remove Paddy Pimblett from the rankings. He doesn’t deserve to be in the top 10. His last three opponents have a combined losing record of 0-13,” said Tsarukyan via The Overdogs Podcast.

The Armenian fighter’s position is the most logical but possibly the least commercially appealing to the UFC brass. He doesn’t have Pimblett’s following or Gaethje’s knockout highlight reel. What he has is a systematic approach to fighting and victories over legitimate competition. But in a sport where entertainment value often trumps pure skill, Tsarukyan finds himself on the outside looking in despite doing everything right inside the octagon.

This three-way standoff perfectly captures everything wrong with modern UFC matchmaking. Skill should determine title shots, but personality and promotional value often matter more. Until the UFC forces the issue, fans will continue watching from the sidelines as three elite fighters refuse to settle their differences in the cage.

(Image Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie – Imagn Images)

Arman Tsarukyan

Ilia Topuria

Justin Gaethje

Paddy Pimblett

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!