- Shara Magomedov says Arman Tsarukyan was passed over for the interim lightweight title at UFC 324 for marketing reasons tied to Western audiences.
- The promotion booked Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett as the interim-title headliner after Ilia Topuria stepped away.
- Tsarukyan has faced recent setbacks — a last-minute withdrawal from a title fight, a suspension and a fine — and is keeping busy with grappling and regional fights.
H2: Magomedov’s theory — marketing over merit
Shara Magomedov told Red Corner MMA she isn’t surprised Arman Tsarukyan was bypassed for the interim lightweight title opportunity. With the UFC’s new broadcast partnerships, she suggested the promotion picked Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett for UFC 324 to appeal to Western viewers.
“The UFC got new sponsorships with Paramount (broadcast deal), so they need Western audiences, Western fans,” Magomedov said in a translated interview. She pointed to Gaethje’s large American fanbase and Pimblett’s hype in the U.K. as factors that made that pairing attractive for a Vegas headliner.
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H3: What actually happened — UFC 324 headline decision
After champion Ilia Topuria announced he would take personal time off, the UFC chose to book an interim lightweight title fight featuring Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett for the UFC 324 main event on Jan. 24 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Arman Tsarukyan was not included on that card for the interim title shot.
H3: Tsarukyan’s recent troubles and activity
Magomedov’s comments come against a backdrop of incidents involving Tsarukyan. According to reports, Tsarukyan withdrew from a scheduled title fight against Islam Makhachev at UFC 311 just one day before the bout. He was also fined $25,000 and given a nine-month suspension by the Nevada Athletic Commission after throwing a punch at a fan during his walkout at UFC 300.
Other reported incidents include a head-butt during weigh-ins with Dan Hooker, which raised further questions about his conduct. Despite those setbacks, Tsarukyan (23-3 MMA, 10-2 UFC) has stayed active: he’s taking grappling matches, is scheduled to meet Shara Magomedov under the Hype FC banner this week, and is booked to face Lance Palmer at RAF 5 on Jan. 10 in Florida.
H4: Reaction and what’s next
Magomedov framed the decision as a business call rather than a purely sporting one. Whether fans and pundits agree will likely depend on how Gaethje vs. Pimblett performs commercially and how Tsarukyan responds in upcoming competitions.
For now, Tsarukyan heads into more grappling and regional fights as he waits for another shot at a UFC title. The interim matchup in Las Vegas remains the promotion’s call — and, according to Magomedov, a reflection of shifting broadcast and sponsorship priorities.
Image Referance: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/story/sports/ufc/2025/12/29/ufc-324-shara-magomedov-opinion-why-arman-tsarukyan-snubbed-lightweight-title-gaethje-pimblett/87944184007/
