Ilia Topuria expressed disappointment with Paddy Pimblett's performance against Gage, stating he knew Pimblett was a poor fighter but didn't realize how poor. Topuria also revealed that if he moves to welterweight to fight Islam Makhachev, he won't be stripped of his lightweight title as he plans to continue defending the 155-pound belt. Jiri Prochazka discussed being unable to let go of his loss even after the birth of his child, claiming he was at 40-50% capacity due to injury and fighting in sparring mode while waiting for the referee to stop the bout. Magomed Ankalaev, through manager Abdelaziz, challenged Khalil Rountree, suggesting Rountree doesn't need wrestling training with Khamzat and promising a 25-minute striking masterclass. UFC announced several matchups including Cory Sandhagen facing Batista instead of O'Malley.
Ilia Topuria has opened the door to a potential clash with Islam Makhachev, while Magomed Ankalaev's camp issued a direct challenge to Khalil Rountree, among a wave of notable fighter comments and UFC booking news that emerged on April 21.
Topuria, 29, holds a 17-1-0 record and currently sits as the number-two ranked lightweight and the number-one pound-for-pound fighter in the world. The Spanish star also used the moment to take a pointed shot at Paddy Pimblett following his performance against Gage, saying he had always known Pimblett was a poor fighter but was surprised by just how poor. On the Makhachev front, Topuria clarified that any potential move to welterweight would not cost him his 155-pound title, as he intends to keep defending the lightweight belt regardless.
Makhachev, the current welterweight champion at 28-1-0, is widely regarded as one of the most complete fighters in the sport. The 34-year-old Russian southpaw lands takedowns at a rate of 3.2 per 15 minutes and posts a striking accuracy of 58 percent, making him a uniquely dangerous opponent across all phases.
Jiri Prochazka, ranked second at light heavyweight with a 32-6-1 record, addressed his most recent loss in candid terms. The 33-year-old Czech fighter said he has struggled to move past the defeat even following the birth of his child, revealing he was operating at roughly 40 to 50 percent capacity due to injury and had essentially been fighting in sparring mode while waiting for a stoppage that never came.
Meanwhile, Magomed Ankalaev's manager Ali Abdelaziz called out Khalil Rountree directly, suggesting Rountree has no need for wrestling sessions with Khamzat Chimaev and that Ankalaev would deliver a 25-minute striking lesson.
Why it matters
- A Topuria move to welterweight to face Makhachev would be one of the biggest cross-divisional matchups in recent UFC history
- Prochazka's injury admission adds context to his recent loss and raises questions about his timeline at light heavyweight
- Ankalaev targeting Rountree keeps the top of the light heavyweight division in flux, with Prochazka also lurking at number two
