Ilia Topuria says he began preparing for Paddy Pimblett after UFC 324

Ilia Topuria has revealed he began camp for a potential fight with Paddy Pimblett immediately after UFC 324, stating he was confident the Liverpool fighter would get the job done that night.

Topuria, the pound-for-pound number one fighter in the world, currently sits at number two in the lightweight rankings with a record of 17 wins and one loss. The 29-year-old Spaniard, who trains out of Climent Club, is a compact orthodox fighter standing five-foot-seven with a 69-inch reach. He lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy and adds a well-rounded grappling threat, averaging nearly two takedowns per 15 minutes alongside 1.1 submission attempts in the same span.

Pimblett, ranked sixth in the lightweight division, improved his record to 23-4 at UFC 324, giving Topuria the green light to accelerate his preparation. The 31-year-old Liverpudlian trains out of Next Generation MMA Liverpool and brings notable output to the cage, landing 5.49 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy. Standing five-foot-ten with a 73-inch reach, he also carries a submission threat, averaging 1.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes.

Why it matters

• Topuria is the pound-for-pound top fighter and a ranked lightweight, making any fight he takes a major divisional event
• A Topuria vs. Pimblett matchup would pit the division's number two against its number six, with significant ranking implications for the 155-pound landscape
• The stylistic contrast is sharp — Topuria's takedown-heavy, high-output attack against Pimblett's forward striking and submission game sets up a multi-dimensional contest
• Topuria's comments signal he is already shaping his own schedule, naming Pimblett as a logical next opponent rather than waiting for matchmaker direction