UFC fans might finally see the grudge match between Paddy Pimblett and Ilia Topuria now that ‘El Matador’ has moved up to lightweight. The trash talk has already begun.
Topuria vacated his featherweight throne earlier this month. With any hope, he’ll face Islam Makhachev for the lightweight crown. In the meantime, Pimblett edges closer to title contention. ‘The Baddy’ fights Michael Chandler in the co-main event of UFC 314 on April 12.
Until then, their long-standing rivalry is reserved to a war of words.
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Paddy Pimblett warns ‘midget’ Ilia Topuria, lightweight move ‘the downfall of his career’
Speaking to Round Eight Boxing, Liverpool’s Pimblett explained how he doesn’t think Topuria will face Makhachev for his first lightweight fight as a former champion.
“I can’t see him getting a title shot straight away,” Pimblett remarked. “I think he’s going to have to fight a Poirier, an Arman [Tsarukyan], or a Charles if he wants a title shot.”
With a win over Chandler at UFC 314, Pimblett fancies a shot at Conor McGregor. But, with Topuria moving to lightweight, there’s always the chance of a showdown between the two hot-headed rivals. Still, Pimblett believes Topuria’s lightweight move will be the ‘downfall of his career.’
“That’s the fight I want, I want that fight,” Pimblett declared. “That’s another one just to prove everyone wrong. He’s a midget, lad. He’s not a lightweight; he shouldn’t be fighting at lightweight. . . . It’s gonna be the downfall of his career.”
Ilia Topuria is undefeated as a UFC lightweight
Despite Pimblett explaining how Topuria doesn’t belong at 155 lbs, the Georgian-Spanish fighter has already fought in that division and came away with a devastating knockout.
Topuria fought as low as a bantamweight on the regional circuit, where he won the vacant Cage Warriors bantamweight belt. After a short stint at featherweight in BRAVE CF, he debuted in the UFC and put together a three-fight winning streak. His fourth contest would be a lightweight fight against Jai Herbert at UFC London in March 2022.
Wiry lightweight striker Herbert almost finished Topuria with a head kick in the opening round. ‘The Black Country Banger’ hit Topuria with a right-hand-head kick combination that put Topuria on his backside. The future champion wrestled back into the fight and later ate a knee to the mouth for his efforts.
Early into the second round, Topuria backed Herbert to the fence and committed to a head-body-head combination that completely flatlined Herbert, securing a knockout victory.
Most fans and pundits point to Topuria’s fight with Herbert when they question his validity in fighting the taller fighters in the lightweight division.