Paddy Pimblett believes Ilia Topuria is a poor imitation of MMA’s greatest legend.
The lightweight rivals clashed in the Octagon after UFC 317 to set up their potential fight.
Ilia Topuria used one of Conor McGregor‘s famous lines to trash-talk his English nemesis during their face-off.
Now, Paddy Pimblett has highlighted the similarities between the new lightweight champion and McGregor, while predicting how a prime vs. prime fight between the two men would play out.
Paddy Pimblett predicts Ilia Topuria vs. Conor McGregor
During a recent interview, Pimblett accused ‘El Matador’ of trying to imitate McGregor.
‘The Baddy’ insisted that, despite public opinion, a prime version of ‘Notorious’ would’ve brutally knocked out Topuria if they fought.
“He’s trying to be Conor McGregor,” Pimblett told UFC Unfiltered.
“He’s got the same tattoos. He even said the other day, ‘I’m gonna put my balls on your forehead,’ which is something McGregor said to Chad Mendes. He’s just a carbon copy of McGregor.
“I think some people can see through that. Even though you see some people now saying he’s better than McGregor, but he’s not.
“In their prime, at the same time, McGregor would have knocked him out with a straight left.”
Paddy Pimblett recalls Ilia Topuria staredown
Pimblett is celebrating a small victory after making Topuria emotional during their UFC 317 face-off.
Security stepped in to break it up when the Spaniard pushed Pimblett, almost sparking a brawl.
However, the man himself insists he was never going to retaliate when things got physical.
Pimblett added: “Against everyone else he’s fought, he’s not emotional, Topuria. He goes in very stoic. Against me, he’s emotional.
“Even the other day [when] he pushed me. I was never going to lay hands on him. I know if I lay hands on him, I don’t get that fight.
“I’m not that stupid, so I just called him a little boy and got under his skin as I always do, and he pushed me.”