Paddy Pimblett has issued a challenge to his longtime rival, former two-division UFC champion Ilia Topuria. Pimblett has suggested the possibility of coaching against Topuria on the upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter. Should this happen, Pimblett intends to play mind games and mentally overpower “El Matador,” aiming to defeat him using the same psychological tactics Conor McGregor employed to take down Jose Aldo in 2015. Speaking to KOLOS MMA, Pimblett said:
“I don’t have any fight booked right now, but I’d love to face Ilia Topuria. I’ll beat him so decisively it will push him down to featherweight. I believe we’d have an incredible season of The Ultimate Fighter because I’d mess with his head so much that when we finally fight, I’ll win just like McGregor did against Aldo.”
You can watch Pimblett’s remarks about Topuria below:
Earlier this year at UFC 329, Pimblett returned to form by submitting Benoit Saint Denis in just 52 seconds. The Liverpudlian fighter is eager to get back in the cage and has already set his sights on Topuria.
Meanwhile, “El Matador” lost his title to Justin Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250, suffering several injuries including a broken nose, fractures around both eyes, and a shattered foot. Fortunately, Topuria has made a speedy recovery, resuming training just three months after the bout. His team anticipates he will be ready to fight again by February 2027. Although they have pushed for an immediate rematch with Gaethje, those plans have been dismissed by the champion.
If Topuria returns in 2027 to defend his belt, he is expected to face top contender Arman Tsarukyan. This scenario positions Pimblett as an ideal adversary for Topuria to settle their rivalry inside the octagon. UFC President Dana White has already expressed that a five-round non-title fight between Topuria and Pimblett would be significant enough to headline a numbered UFC event.
Dana White weighed in on the potential matchup:
Dana White commented that a Topuria vs. Pimblett fight could easily headline a major UFC event even without a championship at stake, calling it a “massive” fight where everyone stands to benefit regardless of the outcome.
Fan Take: This brewing rivalry between Paddy Pimblett and Ilia Topuria lights up the featherweight division with intense personal stakes and star power. For fight fans, this matchup isn’t just about titles—it promises a thrilling blend of psychological warfare and high-level skill that could redefine how future UFC main events are shaped.
Source: www.lowkickmma.com
