Paddy Pimblett is eager for a showdown with Ilia Topuria, aiming to replicate one of the UFC’s most iconic finishes. Having recently returned to winning form with a stunning 52-second submission over Benoit Saint Denis at UFC 329, Pimblett is now in line for a significant opportunity. However, his next opponent may depend on lightweight champion Justin Gaethje’s decision, who is currently considering challenges from fighters like Arman Tsarukyan and Topuria—the latter being the man Gaethje defeated to claim the belt at UFC White House. If Gaethje chooses one, the other could potentially face Pimblett.
Should Pimblett square off against Topuria, it would settle a long-standing rivalry that has lingered even as Topuria rose to featherweight champion and Pimblett climbed the lightweight ranks. Pimblett remains enthusiastic about the fight and suggests adding a dramatic twist—he wants to send Topuria back to featherweight after swiftly beating him, comparing the potential finish to Conor McGregor’s legendary 13-second knockout of Jose Aldo.
While Pimblett hasn’t yet reached McGregor’s level of fame, he is one of the UFC’s most popular figures, instantly recognized and cheered by fans. He was present when Topuria took the lightweight title from Charles Oliveira, with the two even facing off in the octagon post-fight, though a bout between them never materialized.
Topuria is currently pushing for a rematch with Gaethje and has even accused Gaethje of tampering with his gloves during their June fight—claims Pimblett strongly rejects. He calls such excuses baseless and respects the courage it took for Gaethje to defeat him and then Topuria. Pimblett insists that Gaethje’s victories were destined and criticizes Topuria for trying to diminish them.
Pimblett’s primary goal is to challenge Gaethje for the title, but he might have to wait as Arman Tsarukyan recently made a big statement with a knockout win over Mauricio Ruffy at UFC 331. Though Pimblett respects Topuria for his hard work, he has little respect for Tsarukyan, whom he sees as privileged and undeserving of his current standing. Pimblett is open to facing Tsarukyan and promises to finish the fight decisively.
Aside from this heated lightweight scene, the article briefly notes other news: Eddie Hearn brands Dana White and his team as control freaks, Anthony Joshua supports Hearn against interference in a Tyson Fury fight, and Natalia Silva aims for a Brazilian sweep of women’s UFC titles. Meanwhile, Marvin Vettori humorously critiques his recent performances, and Israel Adesanya jokes about his less-than-stellar fight with Yoel Romero.
Fan Take: This potential Pimblett vs. Topuria matchup is a thrilling prospect for MMA fans, especially given the personal rivalry and stylistic clash between two rising stars. Their fight could not only reshape the lightweight division but also elevate fan engagement with a high-stakes contest packed with history and drama—exactly what the sport needs to grow its audience.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
