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Tsarukyan has accused newly-crowned lightweight champ Ilia Topuria of ducking him and eyeing Paddy Pimblett instead. “Ahalkalakets” suddenly targeted Hooker without instigation, “on a side note.”
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“On a side note, Dan Hooker is still a bitch. Just thought that needed to be said,” Tsarukyan wrote on social media.
Hooker replied back, downplaying Tsarukyan’s former status as the No.1 contender.
“You’re a human side note,” Hooker wrote. “Number 1 contender no one gives a f—k about.”
You’re a human side note 😂
Number 1 contender no one gives a fuck about. https://t.co/0bZl3F0bea
— Dan Hangman Hooker (@danthehangman) July 1, 2025
Tsarukyan is currently in a bizarre spot despite being a clear title contender at lightweight. Tsarukyan was scheduled to challenge Islam Makhachev for the title at UFC 311 this past January. However, he pulled out a day before the fight due to a back injury and was replaced by Renato Carneiro, who suffered a submission loss against Makhachev. Dana White publicly expressed his disappointment with Tsarukyan for pulling out and confirmed that he wouldn’t get the next title shot. While Makhachev moved up, the vacant title went up for grabs between Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira, whom Tsarukyan beat in his last outing.
Topuria knocked out Oliveira at UFC 317 last weekend as Tsarukyan watched from the cageside. Many expected that Tsarukyan, the clear contender, would finally get his long-overdue title shot. However, another contender emerged who was also in attendance for the event. Topuria called out Paddy Pimblett, playing on an old rivalry, and the two faced off inside the Octagon. Tsarukyan has now been inactive since April 2024 with no option left other than fighting down the rankings.
Dan Hooker: No One Likes Arman Tsarukyan
Meanwhile, Hooker is on a three-fight winning streak and coming off a win over Matesuz Gamrot, the last man to beat Tsarukyan. “The Hangman” is looking to return to action this fall and named Tsarukyan when asked about a potential opponent.
“Arman’s been calling me out. And that’s the No.1 contender,” Hooker told MMAjunkie.com. “No one likes the guy so I would just love to kick his teeth in.”
This article first appeared at Recent News on Sherdog.com
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