Islam Makhachev doesn’t understand why the UFC overlooked Arman Tsarukyan for a title shot.With lightweight champion Ilia Topuria taking a break from competition until the second quarter of 2026, the UFC has booked an interim title fight between Paddy Pimblett and Justin Gaethje.Former lightweight champion Makhachev believes Tsarukyan deserves the next shot at goldGettyThe pair will meet at UFC 324 on January 24 in a puzzling decision that sees No. 1-ranked 155lbs contender Tsarukyan left out in the cold.Tsarukyan had been due to face Topuria’s predecessor, Makhachev, for the lightweight strap at UFC 311 in January.However, he was forced to withdraw a day before the event with a back injury.Tsarukyan subsequently made weight as the backup opponent for a vacant title fight between Topuria and Charles Oliveira in June before scoring a dominant submission victory over Dan Hooker to further cement his place at the front of the queue. Despite this, he has now been leapfrogged by two fighters ranked three and four spots below him in the UFC ratings.Makhachev was left stunned by the matchmaking, insisting that his former rival had done more than enough to be considered next in line for the title.What did Islam Makhachev say about Paddy Pimblett vs Justin Gaethje?“The organization may not like it, but they make more and more fights that I don’t understand,” Makhachev told Red Corner MMA.“Of course, I think Arman should have gotten the title shot. “Let’s be honest, Arman is not going to fight anytime soon.“It’s Pimblett vs. Gaethje, whoever wins, he gets a shot at Topuria. Tsarukyan is the No.1-ranked 155lbs contender, but won’t be competing for the title nextGetty“Meaning one more year of layoff for Arman. It’s tough.”Dana White insists Arman Tsarukyan must do moreWhile Tsarukyan is undoubtedly the most deserving contender, UFC president Dana White recently insisted that the 29-year-old has more work to do. “He’s gonna have to work his way back. I don’t give a s*** what the number [ranking] says,” he said at the UFC 323 post-fight press conference on Saturday.“He’s gonna have to work his way back. It’s just… too much goes into this for those type of things to happen. “You can’t do that. You can’t get the opportunity and then… it can’t end that way.“He’s got to work his way back. He knows what’s going on. I don’t give a s*** what everybody else says. “He knows what’s going on, and he’s got to work his way back to that title shot.”