Paddy Pimblett would love the opportunity to welcome Ilia Topuria to the lightweight division.
Topuria had a sensational 2024, winning Fighter of the Year honors for his knockout wins over all-time greats Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway. In fact, Topuria’s year was so impressive that despite only having one title defense to his name, the featherweight champion is already angling for a move up to 155 pounds, even targeting a fight with former champion Charles Oliveira if he can’t get a title fight against Islam Makhachev immediately. But Pimblett believes that’s a little too soon.
“Ilia’s a midget,” Pimblett told Daniel Cortes. “People don’t understand how much bigger I am than Ilia. I’m so much bigger than him; people don’t realize. I’d love to do a stare down with him, just so everyone can see how much bigger I actually am than him. …
“Don’t get me wrong, he’s very good. Just because I don’t like him doesn’t mean I’m going to sit here and lie. He’s a very good fighter. He is. But I also think he got fast-tracked to the belt because [Volkanovski] had cleared the featherweight division out already. I think he got fast-tracked to the belt. He’d only beat Bryce Mitchell and Josh Emmett and got a title shot. He didn’t even have to beat Brian Ortega or Yair Rodriguez or Arnold Allen. He skipped these fighters and got to fight for the belt just because Volk had cleared the division out.
“And I personally don’t think he knocks Volk out unless Volk got head kicked 12 weeks before by Islam [Makhachev]. I think Volk fought far too soon. Volk was winning that first and second round until he got caught. I think the rematch is going to be very telling because, obviously, he knocked Holloway out. Holloway’s never been knocked out, but he’s been in several wars. He’s took a lot of damage. I think if he beats Volk a second time and then beats a Diego Lopes, then yeah, he could go down as the best featherweight of all time. But he’s talking about coming up to lightweight when he’s only had one title defense. I think you need to defend the belt at least three times if you want to fight for the belt in the division above.”
Pimblett and Topuria have their own history, dating back to 2022, when the two had altercation at a UFC London event where both competed. The two nearly came to blows again later that year at the UFC 282 press conference before security intervened. Since then, their rivalry has persisted, and while Topuria may not be interested in settling their differences in the cage anymore, Pimblett is more than happy to oblige.
“If he wants to come to lightweight, I’m here waiting,” Pimblett said. “I’ll be there to welcome him. I don’t think anyone else in the division has got more of a claim to welcome him to the division than I have. … I’d love to have a fair fight with him and kick him all over the gaff.”
