Fresh off a dominant performance at UFC 314, Paddy “The Baddy” Pimblett is eager to welcome Ilia Topuria to the lightweight division.
Pimblett showcased his skills in the co-main event in Miami, defeating Michael Chandler and extending his UFC record to 7-0.
With fans anticipating his next move, a showdown between Pimblett and former featherweight champion Ilia Topuria is a highly desired matchup. When questioned about this possibility after his victory, especially after calling out Justin Gaethje, Charles Oliveira, and Arman Tsarukyan, Pimblett addressed the Topuria fight.
“Honestly, I had forgotten about him,” Pimblett admitted. “He slipped my mind, otherwise I would have mentioned him in the octagon. That’s how much he’s on my radar. I have a higher lightweight ranking, so I’d gladly welcome him to the 155-pound division. However, it seems he’s waiting for a title shot.”
Pimblett added, “But after my performance against Chandler, I`ve shown the way to beat him. I’m confident I can use the same strategy against Ilia.”
Looking ahead to 2026, Pimblett hopes to compete for the lightweight championship. Regardless of whether he faces Islam Makhachev or another contender, the rising star is preparing to rise to the challenge.
“There’s talk that Islam might retire after a couple more title defenses, or if Jack Della Maddalena defeats Belal Muhammad, he might move up to welterweight and contend for that belt,” Pimblett noted. “It’s uncertain, but my focus is on training to fight the best, including Islam Makhachev, even if he’s not champion when I get there.”
“We’ll see how things unfold. I’m ready to face whoever is next. Whoever the UFC puts in front of me, that’s who I’ll fight.”
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