Eddie Alvarez explains why UFC snubbed Arman Tsarukyan of title shot

Eddie Alvarez understands why Arman Tsarukyan isn't part of the lightweight title fight at UFC 324.

Despite being the No. 1 contender, Tsarukyan was snubbed out of the title picture after UFC champion Ilia Topuria opted to take some personal time off. Instead, Justin Gaethje (26-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC) and Paddy Pimblett (23-3 MMA, 7-0 UFC) will battle for the interim belt in the UFC 324 headliner on Jan. 24.

So where does that leave Tsarukyan (23-3 MMA, 10-2 UFC)? Alvarez can relate to the logic behind the UFC's matchmaking.

"I think UFC just keeps using Arman to fill cards," Alvarez told MMA Junkie. "And that's your fault. It's your responsibility to go out there and do something that fans want to see, like that fans get excited about. I remember when I fought (Anthony) Pettis, I got in the back and I asked for a title shot. He was an asshole, Joe Silva, I was so mad at him. He embarrassed me in front of all his buddies. He goes, 'Yeah, you fight like that, you're never going to get a title fight.' I was so pissed off because he embarrassed me in front of so many people, but also he was right.

"Looking back in retrospect, he was kind of right. I won the fight, but nobody cares if you win the fight. Your family cares. That's it. The fans want to see something special, something unbelievable. They want to see excitement, blood, guts, and you have to give the customer what they want. So, if you're not getting the fights you want, you're not getting moved up the division the way you want, maybe you have to adjust your style. You can be a ground guy and be exciting. Khabib was very exciting when he took people down and ground and pounded. He was always working to get a finish."

Tsarukyan ran through Dan Hooker for a submission win at UFC Fight Night 265. However, Alvarez said the dominant finish isn't enough for Tsarukyan.

"Arman so far has got Benny (Dariush), Charles (Oliveira), Hooker, and the (Joel) Alvarez kid, but these aren't names like the way Oliveira got, Gaethje got, and these other guys at the top of the division have on their resume," Alvarez said. "And the way Gaethje's finishing them vs. the way you're just winning, who are you arguing with, you know?"

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Ex-UFC champion explains why Arman Tsarukyan title shot snub is fair