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 revealed he started his camp anticipating the Pimblett matchup before it was officially announced. The featherweight champion's comments suggest he was already looking ahead to defending his title against Pimblett. However, there is also discussion about a potential fight with Justin Gaethje being an interesting alternative. The post includes a poll asking fans whether they would prefer to see Topuria face Pimblett or Gaethje.
Ilia Topuria has revealed that he was so confident in Paddy Pimblett's victory at UFC 324 that he began preparing for a potential fight against the Liverpool fighter before any matchup was officially announced.
Topuria, now ranked second in the lightweight division and the pound-for-pound number one fighter in the sport, said he anticipated the Pimblett bout and got his camp underway early. The 29-year-old Spaniard carries a 17-1 record and brings a well-rounded offensive game to the table, landing 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy while also averaging nearly two takedowns per 15 minutes. Fighting out of Climent Club, he has established himself as one of the most dangerous finishers in the sport.
Pimblett, ranked sixth at lightweight, improved to 23-4 with his UFC 324 performance. The 31-year-old from England trains out of Next Generation MMA Liverpool and is known for his high-volume output, landing 5.49 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy. He also averages 1.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes, making him a threat on the ground as well.
Topuria's comments also touched on lightweight champion Justin Gaethje as a potential alternative opponent. Gaethje holds a 28-5 record and is among the most prolific strikers in the division, connecting at a remarkable 6.48 significant strikes per minute with 58 percent accuracy. The 37-year-old American out of Genesis Training Center would represent a different kind of challenge entirely.
Why it matters
- Topuria's early camp preparation signals genuine intent to fight Pimblett, not just a casual callout
- A Topuria vs. Pimblett matchup would pit the division's top pound-for-pound talent against its most popular rising name at lightweight
- Gaethje's status as champion means a title fight against him would carry different stakes than a clash with Pimblett
- The contrasting styles of all three fighters make either matchup a compelling proposition at 155 pounds
