Ilia Topuria, the reigning UFC lightweight champion, has voiced strong criticism regarding Paddy Pimblett’s recent performance in the Octagon.
The rivalry between Topuria and Pimblett has intensified since 2022, evolving from verbal sparring into a heated feud that has included a physical altercation and ongoing exchanges on social media and in interviews.
Following Topuria’s decisive first-round knockout of Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 to claim the lightweight title, he and Pimblett had a confrontation in the Octagon, hinting at a potential future matchup. Pimblett was close to securing such an opportunity during Topuria’s temporary absence due to personal matters. The UFC organized an interim title fight at UFC 324 in January, pitting Pimblett against Justin Gaethje.
However, Justin Gaethje ultimately thwarted “The Baddy’s” aspirations, securing a dominant unanimous decision victory to claim the interim belt. This win positioned Gaethje for a unification bout against Topuria.
Currently, Ilia Topuria is preparing to face Justin Gaethje in the main event of UFC Freedom 250 on June 14th. The event is scheduled to take place on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C.
Ilia Topuria Questions Paddy Pimblett’s Elite Level Readiness
In a recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, Ilia Topuria suggested that a fight against Paddy Pimblett would have been more compelling, given their history, especially when compared to a potential bout with Justin Gaethje.
The lightweight champion admitted he was thoroughly unimpressed with “The Baddy’s” showing at UFC 324, stating that it fell short of his expectations.
“I was a little surprised at how bad Paddy really is,” Ilia Topuria stated. “I was expecting him to win, to be honest. I was expecting him to take Justin down, to do a different fight. What he did inside the Octagon in that fight, it surprised me a little bit. He really proved that he’s a little sausage.”
“El Matador” further commented that while Pimblett might be capable of recovering from the loss, he expressed doubts about whether the Liverpudlian possesses the necessary skills to compete at the highest level within the division.
“Rebound from a loss? Of course, but how is he going to gain the skills and techniques needed in the sport? That’s basically impossible. He needs to die and be born again… Now he’s too far [in the rankings], we don’t see him in the horizon anymore. Bye Paddy. I didn’t even have to step inside the octagon to beat him, so that feels even a little bit better.”
