LAS VEGAS – Paddy Pimblett wants to make one thing clear: He’s not running from anyone, and he doesn’t plan to.

Despite what Arman Tsarukyan might say, Pimblett (23-3 MMA, 7-0 UFC) said Thursday that he won’t avoid a future matchup.

“That’s annoying to me: People are saying, ‘You’re ducking Arman,'” Pimblett told MMA Junkie and other reporters after an open workout at the UFC Performance Institute. “I’ve never been offered to fight Arman. If I ever was offered to fight Arman, I would’ve punched his head in by now.”

Tsarukyan (23-3 MMA, 10-2 UFC), who is considered by many as the rightful No. 1 contender but was excluded from the interim lightweight title fight at UFC 324, recently said that the UFC is protecting Pimblett.

However, Pimblett thinks Tsarukyan is just making noise. Should Pimblett get through Justin Gaethje (26-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC) in Saturday’s main event, he’s willing to fight whomever.

“He irritates me,” Pimblett said. “I think he’s an absolute helmet. I’d fight Arman in a heartbeat. If Ilia can’t come back by July then you need to strip him. He’s slowing the division. I’ll defend against Arman or Max (Holloway) or Charles Oliveira. I don’t care.”

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC 324: Paddy Pimblett annoyed by claims of ducking Arman Tsarukyan