Ilia Topuria has stated that he was confident in Paddy Pimblett's victory at UFC 324 and has already begun preparing for a potential fight against him. Topuria's comments suggest he views Pimblett as his next logical opponent following Pimblett's recent performance. The post includes a poll asking fans whether they would prefer to see Topuria face Pimblett or Justin Gaethje next. No specific timeline or official announcement was mentioned. This indicates Topuria is actively looking ahead to his next title defense.
Ilia Topuria has publicly declared that he saw Paddy Pimblett's victory at UFC 324 coming and has already started preparing to face him, signaling that the lightweight champion views "The Baddy" as a primary target for his next title defense.
Topuria, known as "El Matador," holds a 17-1-0 record and currently sits as the pound-for-pound number one fighter in the sport. The 29-year-old Spaniard, who trains out of Climent Club, competes at lightweight and is ranked second in the division. Standing five-foot-seven with a 69-inch reach, he is a relentless finisher who lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy, while also averaging nearly two takedowns per 15 minutes.
Pimblett enters the conversation with a 23-4-0 record and sits sixth in the lightweight rankings. The 31-year-old from England trains with Next Generation MMA Liverpool and brings genuine finishing ability from both range and the ground, averaging 5.49 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy and 1.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes. At five-foot-ten with a 73-inch reach, he holds notable physical advantages over Topuria.
The situation is complicated by the presence of Justin Gaethje, the reigning lightweight champion. "The Highlight" carries a 28-5-0 record and at 37 years old remains one of the division's most dangerous fighters, averaging a remarkable 6.48 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy. Any title picture at 155 pounds runs through the Arizona native.
Why it matters
- Topuria publicly targeting Pimblett adds immediate pressure to the lightweight title picture
- Pimblett's ranking of sixth means a title shot would represent a significant jump up the divisional ladder
- Gaethje's status as champion means his position in any negotiation cannot be ignored
- The stylistic contrast between Topuria's well-rounded attack and Pimblett's forward-pressure striking sets up a compelling matchup on paper
