Ilia Topuria has launched a scathing attack on British fighter Paddy Pimblett while preparing for his upcoming UFC lightweight title fight. With just two weeks until his championship bout against Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 in Las Vegas, the Spanish-Georgian fighter isn't shy about discussing potential future opponents.
The self-proclaimed "El Matador" didn't mince words when asked about Pimblett during a recent ESPN interview with Carlos Legaspi.
"Paddy Pimblett is another hypocrite. We once shared a press conference where he told me 'I'm fighting in a main event and you're in the preliminaries' or some nonsense like that. Now I wonder: I have two belts, where are you? Who the hell is Paddy Pimblett right now? And why would he deserve to fight me?" Topuria stated.
The bad blood between these fighters dates back to an incident at a Fight Night event in London in 2022, and Topuria hasn't forgotten it. Despite UFC reportedly considering Arman Tsarukyan and Justin Gaethje as more likely next opponents for the winner of the Oliveira fight, Topuria has his own preference.
"If I could choose a fight, I'd fight him because he's really annoying, honestly, he's a pain in the ass. I'd love to give that fight to all the fans because, for a long time, I don't think the UFC has seen a real fight. Two people who really want to hit each other, and what better than doing it in front of everyone and giving them a show. I know what will happen and it won't be good for him. What will happen? The same thing that's happened to everyone else," he declared.
Interestingly, if Topuria manages to claim the lightweight title on June 28, a showdown with Pimblett could potentially happen later this year. However, the UFC faces a tough decision between making this heated matchup or going with more established contenders who've been waiting longer for their title shots.
Justin Gaethje has already threatened retirement if his next fight isn't for the championship, to which Tsarukyan reportedly responded by wishing him a happy retirement.
Will the UFC prioritize rankings and seniority, or will they capitalize on the genuine animosity between Topuria and Pimblett? That question remains unanswered as we approach what could be a significant power shift in the lightweight division.
