Paddy Pimblett blasts Arman Tsarukyan’s RAF training schedule ahead of UFC clash

Arman Tsarukyan faced fresh criticism on Monday as Paddy Pimblett took aim at the Armenian’s RAF commitments just days before their UFC main event. The British star blasted Tsarukyan’s training schedule, branding it a liability for a fighter chasing gold.

Paddy Pimblett, the fast-talking Brit from Liverpool, unloaded on Tsarukyan’s part-time RAF role during a media scrum on 10 July 2026. He argued the schedule would sap Tsarukyan’s focus ahead of their high-stakes welterweight bout. “You can’t serve two masters,” Pimblett told reporters. “Either you’re in the cage or you’re in the barracks.”

Tsarukyan, 29, has split his 2026 campaign between RAF duties and MMA training. The dual path has drawn praise for his discipline-and skepticism over whether it saps fight-week intensity. Pimblett’s jibe lands as both men chase a shot at the welterweight title. Tsarukyan’s last outing ended in a split-decision loss to Islam Makhachev in March 2026, a fight where conditioning was a talking point.

The Tsarukyan vs. Pimblett scrap is penciled for 19 July 2026 at UFC London, headlining a stacked card at The O2 Arena. A win for Tsarukyan would vault him back into title contention. For Pimblett, a finish would cement his place as a legitimate contender. Both camps have traded barbs for weeks, but the real fireworks kick off inside the cage this Friday.

Islam Makhachev, Tsarukyan’s last opponent, called the RAF comments “irrelevant” in a Russian-language interview aired on 11 July 2026. Meanwhile, Pimblett’s teammate, Mike Grundy, doubled down on social media, posting a meme of Tsarukyan in RAF gear with the caption: “Pick a lane.” The banter has turned the pre-fight hype into a global talking point.