Paddy Pimblett insists he would beat featherweight king Ilia Topuria.
‘El Matador’ is widely regarded as one of the pound-for-pound best fighters in MMA after recording back-to-back knockout wins over 145lb legends Alexander Volkanovksi and Max Holloway.
‘The Baddy’ recently cracked the lightweight top 15 by submitting Bobby Green, but he’s still got some work to do before fans believe he’s a genuine title contender.
Still, he’s adamant that a fight with Topuria, who he famously clashed with during a hotel scuffle ahead of UFC London in March 2022, would go his way.
- READ MORE: Who is Paddy Pimblett? Get to know the ‘baddy’ of MMA who is making his presence felt in UFC
Paddy Pimblett annoys fans with reaction to UFC 308
Paddy Pimblett watched on from home as Topuria became the first man to knock out Holloway at UFC 308 last month.
The 29-year-old Englishman recorded his reaction and posted it on YouTube, where he received a ton of flack in the comment section for talking up his chances against the man he threw a hand sanitizer bottle at two years ago.
“Heavy,” he said of Topuria’s finish. “Hand sanitizer boy with the win? Heavy. Well done, Ilia, give you your due, lad, 16-0 hand sanitizer boy. I can’t wait for him to come back up to lightweight, I still think I’d beat him.
“I really do, I still think I’d beat him, lad. Whether he’s just beat Max Holloway or not, I still think I’d beat him. Kicking him on the feet or taking him down and submitting him, I genuinely think I’d beat him, but congrats Ilia Topuria, well done, son, congratulations, lad.
“Obviously hand sanitizer boy knocked Holloway out, I didn’t see that coming but give him his due, good finish. Max was the better boxer, but Ilia is the better swinger, he ended up catching him with them shots on the button.
“So congrats, fella. Can’t wait for Volk to come back and beat you up and I’m willing to, any time.”
The word ‘delusional’ frequently popped up as fans reacted to Pimblett’s post-fight thoughts, and now he’s shared another video doubling down on his prediction.
Paddy Pimblett thinks he’d submit Ilia Topuria
Pimblett is well aware of what the fans think of his chances against Topuria.
Still, he’s confident that he’d be too big and too slick on the floor for him if they ever fight.
“Quite funny how I’ve seen people on my YouTube, people saying… some people are offended that I said I’d beat Ilia,” Pimblett said in his latest YouTube video.
“What do you expect? Think I’m gonna sit here and go, ‘Oh, yeah, he’d beat me, him.’ I’m not a hater. He’s good, but I’d still beat him. Styles make fights.
“People can laugh all they want because I hope one day we do get to fight, and then I can say, ‘I told you so.’ Just like I did it after I subbed Bobby Green in the first round.”
“I’d have too much range on him. He wouldn’t be able to get near me. If he did, I’d sub him.
“Keep doubting me. I’m confident in all the training I do. I’m confident I get better every camp, and all fighters should have that mentality. If you haven’t got that mentality, go and do a team sport.”