Ilia Topuria says he began preparing for Pimblett fight before UFC 324

Ilia Topuria says he was so certain of Paddy Pimblett's success at UFC 324 that he began preparing for a potential fight against the Liverpool-born contender before the event had even finished.

Topuria, who currently sits at number one in the pound-for-pound rankings and number two in the lightweight division, made the revelation in a recent interview, pointing to strategic thinking from a champion who is clearly mapping his next moves well in advance. The Georgian-born Spaniard, fighting out of Climent Club, carries a 17-1-0 record and is 29 years old. Standing five-foot-seven with a 69-inch reach, "El Matador" lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy, and also threatens consistently on the ground with nearly two takedowns per 15 minutes.

Pimblett, ranked sixth at lightweight, improved his record to 23-4-0 with his performance at UFC 324. The 31-year-old Englishman trains out of Next Generation MMA Liverpool and stands five-foot-ten with a 73-inch reach. "The Baddy" is an active and accurate striker, landing 5.49 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy, and adds submission threat with 1.2 attempts per 15 minutes.

Why it matters

• Topuria's pre-emptive camp planning signals he views Pimblett as a genuine and imminent title challenger at lightweight.
• A Topuria defense against the sixth-ranked Pimblett would carry significant commercial weight given Pimblett's large following in the UK and beyond.
• Both fighters are orthodox strikers with active submission games, setting up a technically compelling stylistic contest if the bout is formalized.