Now that Ilia Topuria is back in training and targeting an early 2027 UFC return, fans can already start imagining him finally settling his long-standing rivalry with Paddy Pimblett.
The bad blood between the two dates back to UFC London in 2022, when they clashed during the event’s press conference and even threw bottles at each other at their hotel. Pimblett later trolled Topuria by pretending to purchase the red-corner stool used during the June 14 event for nearly $14,000, although the entire story was, of course, made up.
The Englishman even proposed settling their rivalry through a season of The Ultimate Fighter to build more hype around the matchup. Dana White was also happy to entertain the idea, suggesting that the fight could headline a numbered UFC event without a title on the line.
And it seems Topuria is on the same page. In his first exclusive interview since UFC Freedom 250, a preview clip released by ABC Diario on Thursday showed the former two-division champion calling out Pimblett while discussing his future inside the Octagon.
Along with opening up about the psychological impact of his loss to Justin Gaethje, Topuria also addressed the possibility of retiring after his next fight. He said, “I’ve achieved everything, and after this fight, what else?” Maybe I’ll even retire.”
However, before potentially walking away from the sport, he has one rivalry he wants to settle. Topuria pitched April 2027 as a possible return date and made it clear that Pimblett is the opponent he wants. He said, “Like you have never seen him before. From April onward is when we are considering returning. I have always been aware that in this life, not everything is a bed of roses, even though I’ve never had it before.”
He then had a message specifically for his longtime rival, saying, “Paddy, Paddy, Paddy. I’ll eat him like a sausage, which he is.”
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If Topuria can return and beat Pimblett in his comeback fight, it would put him in a strong position to work his way back toward the UFC lightweight title by the end of 2027. However, the division is already crowded, with Gaethje’s future still uncertain and contenders like Arman Tsarukyan and Alexander Volkanovski also eyeing 155-pound gold.
Still, given the history between Topuria and Pimblett, this is one rivalry the UFC would have a hard time ignoring.
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.
