Ilia Topuria has stated that he was confident in Paddy Pimblett's victory at UFC 324 and began preparing for a potential fight against him ahead of time. Topuria's comments suggest he anticipated Pimblett would win his bout and become a likely future opponent. The statement reflects Topuria's forward planning in his championship reign. The post does not indicate whether a fight between Topuria and Pimblett is officially scheduled or merely being discussed as a possibility.
Ilia Topuria revealed on April 10 that he had already begun preparing for a potential showdown with Paddy Pimblett before UFC 324 took place, stating he was confident the Liverpool fighter would emerge victorious from his bout on that card.
Topuria, known as "El Matador," currently holds a 17-1-0 record and sits at number two in the lightweight division while ranking first pound-for-pound in the sport. The 29-year-old Spanish fighter out of Climent Club brings a well-rounded offensive game, averaging 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy, while also averaging nearly two takedowns per 15 minutes. His willingness to map out future opponents before the results are even official underlines the calculated approach he has brought to his championship reign.
Pimblett, 31, enters the conversation with a 23-4-0 record and sits sixth in the lightweight rankings. The Liverpool native fighting out of Next Generation MMA is a notably active striker, landing 5.49 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy, and he complements that output with 1.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes. At five-foot-ten with a 73-inch reach, "The Baddy" carries physical advantages over Topuria in height and range.
No fight between the two has been officially announced or scheduled at this stage, and Topuria's comments appear to reflect personal preparation and confidence in his own read of the division rather than any confirmed negotiation.
Why it matters
- Topuria is the pound-for-pound number one and a win over a high-profile name like Pimblett would further cement his reign at lightweight
- Pimblett at ranked sixth represents a significant step up in competition and a win would vault him into title contention
- Stylistically, both fighters are aggressive orthodox strikers with active submission games, pointing toward a high-action matchup if it comes together
