Paddy Pimblett sees weaknesses in Arman Tsarukyan despite knockout of Mauricio Ruffy

Paddy Pimblett says Arman Tsarukyan’s knockout win over Mauricio Ruffy exposed weaknesses in his striking and wrestling, leaving him confident he could win a fight between them.

Paddy Pimblett believes Arman Tsarukyan showed vulnerabilities in his victory over Mauricio Ruffy and remains confident he could beat him, Bloody Elbow reported.

Tsarukyan knocked Ruffy out with a short elbow from the clinch in the closing seconds of the first round. Watching the co-main event for his morning-after reaction video, Pimblett acknowledged the quality of the finish.

“As much as I don't like him, that was a naughty elbow,” Pimblett said.

His criticism centred on what happened before that strike. Pimblett said Tsarukyan had been unable to take Ruffy down, questioning his wrestling against an opponent whose takedown defence he felt had been unconvincing in recent years.

Pimblett also pointed to the damage around Tsarukyan’s eye, which he attributed to one right hand. He said he would have liked to see how the fight developed over the second and third rounds, and felt Ruffy should have attacked when they separated with 15 seconds remaining instead of staying against the fence.