Arman Tsarukyan Says He’s ‘Smarter’ Than Conor McGregor and Slams Rival Paddy Pimblett

Arman Tsarukyan has taken aim at two of the UFC’s most recognizable names, using a sponsor Q&A to contrast his own financial philosophy with that of Conor McGregor before issuing a scathing appraisal of fellow lightweight Paddy Pimblett.

Appearing on a YouTube video for his sponsor Aviator, the rising contender fielded fan questions about lifestyle choices and potential opponents. When the topic of luxury purchases arose, Tsarukyan drew a distinction between his approach and McGregor’s well-documented spending habits, specifically the Irish star’s ownership of a private yacht.

“I don’t have a yacht,” Tsarukyan said with a grin. “Because I am smarter. One of my friends told me: ‘When you buy a yacht, you’re happy two times—when you buy it and when you sell it.’ So that’s why I just rent it.” He acknowledged that McGregor’s fortune makes outright purchases feasible for the former two-division champion, but reiterated that renting aligns with his own view of smart money management.

The conversation pivoted to potential matchups inside the Octagon, and Tsarukyan saved his sharpest barbs for Liverpool’s Pimblett. Asked whether he foresees a future fight with the 31-year-old Scouser, Tsarukyan did not mince words.

“I can fight him with just playing, give him one leg and he can even submit me,” Tsarukyan said. “He’s the worst fighter from the UFC. UFC just gotta cut him.”

The remarks amplify the ongoing debate surrounding Pimblett’s place in the promotion. While the charismatic lightweight has amassed a fervent fan base, critics continue to question the caliber of opposition he has faced since joining the roster. Tsarukyan’s comments add another layer of scrutiny at a time when Pimblett is striving to prove he belongs among the division’s elite.

Tsarukyan, who has steadily climbed the 155-pound rankings, now positions himself as both a fiscal pragmatist and a vocal critic of one of the UFC’s most polarizing figures. Whether his words translate into an eventual showdown with Pimblett—or serve merely as verbal jabs in an increasingly crowded lightweight conversation—remains to be seen.