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

Ilia Topuria revealed that he was so certain Paddy Pimblett would win at UFC 324 that he began preparing for a potential matchup against the Liverpool fighter before the event even took place. No official bout agreement has been announced, but Topuria's comments make clear he has been eyeing Pimblett as a next opponent.

Topuria, nicknamed "El Matador," carries a 17-1 record and currently sits at number two in the lightweight division while holding the number one spot in the pound-for-pound rankings. The 29-year-old Spaniard, who trains out of Climent Club, stands five-foot-seven with a 69-inch reach and lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy. He also averages nearly two takedowns per 15 minutes, making him a well-rounded threat across all phases of the fight.

Pimblett, known as "The Baddy," brings a 23-4 record into the picture and is ranked sixth at lightweight. The 31-year-old Englishman out of Next Generation MMA Liverpool is slightly larger at five-foot-ten with a 73-inch reach. He lands 5.49 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy and averages 1.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes, showing he is dangerous both on the feet and on the ground.

Why it matters

• A Topuria-Pimblett fight would pit the division's top pound-for-pound fighter against one of lightweight's most marketable names.
• Topuria's ranking at number two means a win over the sixth-ranked Pimblett could strengthen his position ahead of a title shot or defense.
• The style matchup is intriguing, with both fighters posting high strike output, though Topuria brings a more active grappling threat.
• Fan interest was notable enough that a poll weighing Pimblett against Justin Gaethje as a Topuria opponent was circulating alongside the story.