Ilia Topuria’s return to the Octagon is slowly taking shape, with Paddy Pimblett emerging as a potential opponent. Although the Spaniard has expressed interest in an immediate rematch with Justin Gaethje, his long-standing rivalry with the Englishman could finally get its resolution.
The bad blood between the two dates back to UFC London in 2022, where they exchanged heated words at the press conference before their confrontation reportedly continued at the hotel, with bottles being thrown at each other.
Pimblett later mocked Topuria by claiming he had purchased the red-corner stool from his June 14 fight for nearly $14,000. The Englishman also proposed coaching opposite the Spaniard on The Ultimate Fighter, an idea Dana White was willing to entertain, even suggesting their eventual fight could headline a numbered UFC event without a title on the line.
Now, Topuria has reignited the rivalry in his latest interview, questioning Pimblett’s toughness compared to Gaethje and dismissing his ability to control him on the ground.
Ilia Topuria Claims Paddy Pimblett Has No Answer for Him in Grappling Exchanges
In a recent interview with ABC Diario, Topuria revealed that he is interested in the possibility of coaching a season of The Ultimate Fighter against Pimblett. However, the Spaniard wants to get back to full fitness before committing to any plans.
He said, “I’ve heard some rumors [about The Ultimate Fighter], but I haven’t had any conversations with the UFC. I don’t know what their interests are. When we resume talks with them, we’ll see if we’re on the same page.”
He added, “There are still good times ahead, but what matters most to me is getting back to training, feeling healthy and well, and then we’ll be ready for whatever comes up.”
Topuria then turned his attention to Pimblett, drawing a sharp distinction between the Englishman and Justin Gaethje. While acknowledging that the Liverpudlian should not be underestimated, the former champion questioned his toughness and ability to pose a serious threat inside the Octagon.
He said, “Paddy, Paddy, Paddy. I’ll eat him up like the sausage he is. Like I’m telling you, there’s no easy opponents at this level. Paddy isn’t someone to overlook. He’s someone you have to take seriously, but with that head of his, just throw a punch in his direction, and you’ll hit him.”
The Spaniard also dismissed Pimblett’s grappling credentials, insisting that the Englishman would struggle to get the better of him on the ground.
He said, “If you listen to him, he beats me at everything, but I’ll beat him at whatever he wants. After a loss, it’s hard to talk about these things because it’s like, ‘Well, you just lost.’ And, yes, you’re right. But against Paddy on the ground, in a grappling match, he wouldn’t score a single point on me.”
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Topuria doubled down on his assessment, questioning how Pimblett could take him down, pass his guard, or execute a sweep.
He further explained, “Not even one seriously. What does he do to me? Take me down? He’s not taking me down. Pass my guard? You’re not passing my guard. Sweep me? How are you going to sweep me? I don’t see anything he does better than me on the ground, absolutely nothing.”
The former champion then returned to the comparison with Gaethje, arguing that Pimblett lacks the physicality and fighting instincts of the reigning 155lbs champion.
He said, “He’s someone you can dominate. You can dominate him comfortably. He has a sausage body and thinks being big will give him an advantage. What are you going to do? Fight me on the feet? He’s not like Justin. Justin is a dog.”
Topuria continued his assessment by highlighting what he believes separates Gaethje from Pimblett as a striker and overall threat.
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He added, “Justin knows how to slip punches, and he’s a real dog, and Paddy doesn’t have that. Paddy has absolutely nothing. Paddy doesn’t have a punch that puts you to sleep. Paddy doesn’t have unexpected takedowns. Paddy doesn’t have submissions out of nowhere. Paddy is very predictable.”
Topuria has already floated April 2027 as a potential comeback date and made no secret of his interest in settling his rivalry with Pimblett. Whether the UFC moves forward with the proposed matchup or a potential The Ultimate Fighter season remains to be seen.
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.
