With Ilia Topuria finally back in training, speculation surrounding the former two-division champion’s UFC return is growing by the day. Fans are eager to see him back inside the Octagon for the first time since he lost his lightweight title to Justin Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250.
An immediate rematch with Gaethje, however, may not make much sense. Topuria had not defended his lightweight title before facing Gaethje and ultimately retired on his stool at the end of the fourth round back in June.
That brings Paddy Pimblett into the picture. The Liverpudlian has called out Topuria multiple times since the White House event, and there is already plenty of history between the two. From their 2022 altercation at a London hotel to their heated verbal exchange at the UFC 282 press conference, a matchup between them has all the ingredients of a must-watch grudge fight.
Pimblett recently took things a step further by pitching the idea of having an entire season of The Ultimate Fighter with Topuria as the opposing coach. And judging by Dana White’s reaction, the UFC boss was pretty thrilled with the idea.
Dana White Is All for Ilia Topuria and Paddy Pimblett Coaching a Season of TUF
Heading into UFC 332, Pimblett spoke to Kolos MMA and suggested that he and Topuria could coach against each other on a season of The Ultimate Fighter before finally settling their differences inside the Octagon. The Englishman believes the added mental pressure would give him another advantage over Topuria.
He said, “I think me and Ilia Topuria would be a brilliant season of ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ because I’d get under his skin so much that when we come into the fight, I’d beat him just as fast as (Conor) McGregor beat (Jose) Aldo. ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ would be a very entertaining six weeks, to say the least, if it was me and him.”
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Dana White was asked about the idea during the UFC 332 post-fight press conference, and he was clearly on board with it. The UFC CEO said, “I mean I love the idea of that, but a lot of things determine how things play out. Not just for The Ultimate Fighter, but certain fights and title fights. I don’t know; we’ll see how the timing plays out, but that would be a good one.”
White’s response makes sense. While a TUF season featuring Topuria and Pimblett sounds great on paper, the process would take a considerable amount of time. The show could take around six weeks to film, followed by another four to five months of production before the episodes are ready to air. Once it begins airing, the season would then run weekly for roughly three months.
Dana White is open to Ilia Topuria and Paddy Pimblett coaching The Ultimate Fighter against each other
“That would definitely be a good one.” 👀
via @ufc https://t.co/OjL51zdXq0
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) October 4, 2026
In other words, fans could potentially wait more than 10 months before seeing Topuria and Pimblett finally settle their differences inside the Octagon. And this is a rivalry that arguably doesn’t need quite that much buildup.
There is also the question of timing. As White pointed out, title fights and other major matchups could determine how things play out. Topuria could be in line for a major fight or even a title opportunity, while the UFC may already be working through scheduling discussions behind the scenes.
For now, nothing is set in stone. But if the UFC can make it happen, Pimblett vs. Topuria could be absolute cinema.
Kshitiz Kumar Singh is a UFC Writer at NY Fights with over three years of experience in sports journalism and content creation. Known for his sharp storytelling and passion for combat sports, he has written in-depth features on stars like Brock Lesnar, Randy Couture, and Ilia Topuria. Before joining NY Fights, Kshitiz worked as a UFC Editor at EssentiallySports while currently serving as a WWE Editor at FirstSportz. His admiration for legends like Georges St-Pierre continues to inspire his detailed and engaging MMA coverage. Whether he’s covering the Octagon or the squared circle, Kshitiz is committed to delivering accurate, high-quality content. Outside the world of sports, he’s a dedicated cinephile, often found practicing monologues from his favorite Al Pacino films, combining his love for cinema with storytelling.
