Ilia Topuria stated that he was confident Paddy Pimblett would win at UFC 324 and began preparing for a potential bout against him in advance. Topuria's comments suggest he anticipated Pimblett's victory and saw him as a future opponent. The post indicates Topuria is actively considering matchups in the lightweight division. No official announcement of a Topuria vs Pimblett fight has been made. The post also references alternative interest in a bout with Justin Gaethje.
Ilia Topuria revealed on April 10 that he was so confident Paddy Pimblett would win at UFC 324 that he began his preparation for a potential fight against the Liverpool native before the event had even concluded. No official bout agreement between the two has been announced.
Topuria, ranked second in the lightweight division and the current number-one pound-for-pound fighter in the world, carries a 17-1-0 record at 29 years old. The Spain-based Georgian, who fights out of Climent Club, stands five-foot-seven with a 69-inch reach and has established himself as one of the most dangerous finishers in the sport, landing 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy while also averaging nearly two takedowns per 15 minutes.
Pimblett, ranked sixth at lightweight, improved his record to 23-4-0 with his UFC 324 performance. The 31-year-old Englishman fighting out of Next Generation MMA Liverpool is a notable offensive threat, averaging 5.49 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy, and supplements his striking with 1.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
Topuria's comments also referenced a possible interest in facing lightweight champion Justin Gaethje as an alternative. Gaethje, 37, holds a 28-5-0 record and is the most prolific striker of the three fighters mentioned, landing 6.48 significant strikes per minute at an impressive 58 percent accuracy.
Why it matters
- Topuria is the top-ranked pound-for-pound fighter targeting a return at lightweight, adding immediate credibility to any potential matchup.
- A fight with sixth-ranked Pimblett would be a marquee attraction but carries less title-implication weight than a challenge to champion Gaethje.
- The contrasting styles — Pimblett's submission threat against Topuria's well-rounded grappling and striking — and Gaethje's elite striking present distinct challenges for El Matador.
