Paddy Pimblett Drops Bombshell, Vows to Make Ilia Topuria Unrecognisable
The UFC lightweight division has always been stacked with talent, drama, and blockbuster matchups, but a new rivalry is now threatening to take over the spotlight. Paddy Pimblett, one of the sport’s most polarizing and charismatic figures, has made it clear: he wants Ilia Topuria, and he’s not just looking to fight him — he’s planning to finish him.
The British star, nicknamed “The Baddy,” is coming off a spectacular run in the UFC and has been heavily linked with a world title shot. With the lightweight throne now belonging to Topuria, following his brutal first-round knockout of Charles Oliveira in Las Vegas to claim the vacant championship, Pimblett’s ambitions have never been clearer.
And in true Pimblett fashion, his confidence is absolutely unshakable.
“I finish him,” Pimblett said when asked about a possible showdown. “It doesn’t go five rounds. I finish him. He’s a better boxer than me, and that’s about it. But we’re not boxing, we’re doing MMA striking. I’ll kick him all around the cage and when he tries to storm in, I’ll end up taking him down and either elbow his head in until he’s unrecognisable, or choke him.”
Ilia Topuria — Undefeated, Untouchable, and Sitting at the Top
At just 27 years old, Ilia Topuria is now 17-0 and sits atop the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings. He has established himself as one of the most dangerous men in mixed martial arts, combining ferocious striking with elite-level grappling and a finishing instinct that has seen nearly all of his fights end before the judges were needed.
His return to the lightweight division was a statement — a vicious knockout of former champion Charles Oliveira that left no doubt he belonged at the top. The performance not only earned him UFC gold but also a wave of respect and fear from the rest of the division.
Yet if there’s one thing that defines Pimblett, it’s fearlessness. He doesn’t care who’s in front of him — whether it’s a technical master like Topuria or a savage brawler like Justin Gaethje. In Pimblett’s eyes, he’s destined to be champion, and the road to that destiny runs through the reigning king.
Pimblett’s UFC Rise — Seven Fights, Seven Wins
Currently ranked No. 7 in the UFC lightweight rankings, Pimblett has quietly built one of the most impressive streaks in the division. His recent TKO victory over former title challenger Michael Chandler at UFC 314 cemented his status as a legitimate contender and silenced many of his doubters.
The win pushed his unbeaten UFC streak to seven and showcased a more polished, controlled version of Pimblett — one who still carried the wild confidence of a rising star but now backed it up with technical improvements, smarter game-planning, and a proven ability to handle high-pressure moments against elite opposition.
“I want to be a world champion,” Pimblett said. “Anything other than that, I’d rather just fight. But this is the only fight that I do want to sit around and wait for — a world title fight.”
UFC 321 Speculation, Abu Dhabi Rumors, and a Waiting Game
For weeks, fans speculated that Pimblett’s return would happen at UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi — a card headlined by heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall. But Pimblett himself has now put those rumors to rest.
“It doesn’t look like it’s happening in Abu Dhabi,” Pimblett admitted. “Nobody has got at me about a fight. I’m just sitting here waiting. I’m still training every day, but I haven’t got an opponent to focus on. The longer I wait, the more I think that it’s going to be Ilia.”
That uncertainty has created even more buzz. UFC president Dana White has long understood that rivalries sell fights, and Pimblett vs. Topuria has every ingredient of a pay-per-view blockbuster — bad blood, high stakes, contrasting personalities, and a legitimate world title on the line.
The Other Names in the Mix
Not everyone in the division is impressed with Pimblett’s rapid rise. Fighters like Justin Gaethje and Dan Hooker have been vocal critics of the Scouser’s push for a title shot.
Gaethje, fresh off a win over Rafael Fiziev at UFC 313, dismissed the idea outright. “If that’s the route they want me to take,” Gaethje said, “then I don’t believe they need me anymore.”
Hooker, who hasn’t fought since his split-decision win over Mateusz Gamrot at UFC 305, went even further, branding Pimblett “the worst fighter” and claiming that if the UFC gave him a title shot over more proven contenders, it would be “an absolute p***-take.”
But Pimblett doesn’t care. His focus is singular, his confidence unshaken. “The fight to make is me versus Ilia,” he insisted. “Everyone knows it. Everyone wants to see it. It’s the biggest fight they can make now. There’s genuine bad blood between us. We do not like each other. That’s what sells the sport.”
Why Pimblett vs. Topuria Could Be the UFC’s Next Big PPV
From a promotional standpoint, this matchup is a dream. On one side, you have Topuria — a cold, calculated, undefeated champion, respected for his technical brilliance and feared for his finishing power. On the other, Pimblett — a flamboyant, outspoken, fan-favorite fighter whose fights always bring chaos, passion, and drama both inside and outside the cage.
Stylistically, the matchup is intriguing. Topuria is the more polished striker, with excellent boxing and lethal counters, while Pimblett thrives in scrambles, submissions, and high-pace pressure that overwhelms opponents. Both have finishing instincts, both can push a relentless pace, and both know that this fight is about more than gold — it’s about pride, respect, and settling a rivalry that has been brewing for years.
The Road Ahead — All Eyes on the UFC
As of now, no official announcement has been made. But with Pimblett openly declaring he’s willing to wait for Topuria, and with the UFC in constant search of marketable, high-stakes title fights, the stars may be aligning for what could be one of the biggest lightweight showdowns in years.
Whether it happens at Madison Square Garden, Las Vegas, or even overseas, one thing is clear: Paddy Pimblett vs. Ilia Topuria is a fight that captures everything fans love about MMA — skill, drama, emotion, and the irresistible pull of unfinished business.
For Pimblett, it’s the chance to fulfill his championship dream. For Topuria, it’s the opportunity to silence a rival and continue his path toward lightweight greatness. For the fans, it’s a fight that feels inevitable, unpredictable, and absolutely unmissable.
