Paddy Pimblett has a message for his arch-rival, former two-division UFC champion Ilia Topuria.
Pimblett has floated the idea of coaching opposite Topuria on the next season of The Ultimate Fighter. If Pimblett’s wish comes true, he wants to use the opportunity to get under Topuria’s skin and plans to mentally destroy and beat “El Matador” the same way Conor McGregor beat Jose Aldo in 2015. During an interview with KOLOS MMA, “The Baddy” quipped:
“I have no fight booked at the minute, but I’d love to fight Ilia Topuria. I’ll beat him that badly and send him down to featherweight. I think me and Ilia would have a brilliant season of The Ultimate Fighter because I’d get under his skin so much that, when we commence the fight, I’d beat him just as McGregor beat Aldo.”
Check out Paddy Pimblett’s comments about Ilia Topuria below:
Paddy Pimblett bounced back at UFC 329; Ilia Topuria lost his title at UFC Freedom 250
Earlier this year at UFC 329, Paddy Pimblett returned to winning ways by submitting Benoit Saint Denis in just 52 seconds. The Liverpudlian is hungry to return to the octagon and already has his crosshairs set on Topuria.
El Matador,” on the other hand, lost his title to Justin Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250. Topuria suffered multiple injuries during the Gaethje fight, including a broken nose, two fractured orbital bones, and a shattered foot.
However, the good news is that “El Matador” has recovered quickly, with just three months passing since the fight, and has already returned to training. The 29-year-old’s team believes he will be ready to fight starting February 2027. Although they have been pushing for an immediate title rematch with Gaethje, the latter has rejected the idea.
If “The Highlight” returns in 2027 to defend his strap, he’s expected to lock horns with top contender Arman Tsarukyan. That leaves Pimblett as a phenomenal opponent for Topuria to settle their grudge inside the octagon. Dana White has already said he believes a Topuria-Pimblett five-round non-title fight is easily enough to headline a numbered UFC event.
Check out Dana White’s comments about a potential Ilia Topuria vs. Paddy Pimblett bout below:
