Ilia Topuria stated that he was confident in Paddy Pimblett's victory at UFC 324 and began preparing for a potential fight against him in advance. Topuria's comments suggest he anticipated the outcome of Pimblett's bout and immediately started training camp for a matchup. The post includes a poll asking followers whether they would prefer to see the Pimblett fight or a bout with Justin Gaethje. No official announcement of either fight has been made based on the post.
Ilia Topuria revealed on April 10 that he was so certain Paddy Pimblett would win at UFC 324 that he began his training camp for a potential fight against the Liverpool fighter before the bout even concluded.
Topuria, ranked second in the lightweight division and first in the pound-for-pound standings, carries a 17-1 record and fights out of Spain under the Climent Club banner. The 29-year-old stands five-foot-seven with a 69-inch reach and has built a reputation as a well-rounded finisher, averaging 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy while also mixing in 1.96 takedown attempts per 15 minutes.
Pimblett, ranked sixth at lightweight with a 23-4 record, is three years older than Topuria and brings considerable offensive volume to the table. The 31-year-old Englishman from Next Generation MMA Liverpool stands five-foot-ten with a 73-inch reach and lands 5.49 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy, also averaging 1.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
Topuria also referenced a potential matchup with lightweight champion Justin Gaethje, the 37-year-old American who holds a 28-5 record and fights out of Genesis Training Center. Gaethje is among the most prolific strikers in the division, connecting at a remarkable 6.48 significant strikes per minute with 58 percent accuracy.
No official fight announcement has been made for either matchup.
Why it matters
- A Topuria-Pimblett fight would pit the division's second-ranked contender against a rising name at sixth, with significant ranking implications on the line.
- The alternative, a Topuria-Gaethje clash, would be a title fight against the lightweight champion, representing a different level of divisional stakes entirely.
- Both potential opponents are orthodox strikers like Topuria, setting up technically intriguing stand-up matchups in either direction.
