Ilia Topuria has criticized Paddy Pimblett's fighting abilities, calling his skills 'really bad' in recent comments. Topuria is preparing for an upcoming clash with Justin Gaethje and appears focused on celebrating before that significant matchup. The featherweight champion's comments about Pimblett suggest potential future interest in that fight, though his immediate attention is on the Gaethje bout. This trash talk adds intrigue to the lightweight/featherweight landscape as Topuria continues to establish himself as an outspoken personality in the UFC.
Ilia Topuria has taken aim at Paddy Pimblett, dismissing the Liverpool lightweight's abilities as "really bad" in remarks made ahead of his upcoming title unification or championship clash with Justin Gaethje.
Topuria, 29, holds a 17-1-0 record and currently sits at number two in the lightweight rankings while also holding the number one spot in the pound-for-pound standings. The Spaniard, who represents Climent Club and fights out of an orthodox stance, stands five-foot-seven with a 69-inch reach. He lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy and supplements his standup with 1.96 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him a well-rounded threat at 155 pounds.
Pimblett, ranked sixth at lightweight, carries a 23-4-0 record and brings his own offensive output to the table. The 31-year-old Englishman actually posts a higher striking volume than Topuria, landing 5.49 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy, and averages 1.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes. At five-foot-ten with a 73-inch reach, "The Baddy" holds physical advantages over "El Matador," though Topuria's comments suggest he is far from impressed.
Topuria's more immediate concern is lightweight champion Justin Gaethje, who owns a 28-5-0 record and is the most active striker of the three. "The Highlight" lands 6.48 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent clip, numbers that rank among the most dangerous in the division. The 37-year-old American from Genesis Training Center stands five-foot-eleven with a 70-inch reach.
Why it matters
- Topuria's callout of Pimblett hints at a possible future lightweight matchup should he get past Gaethje
- A Topuria win over the champion would make him one of the most dominant figures across both featherweight and lightweight
- The style contrast between Pimblett's high-volume striking and Topuria's all-around game gives any potential future bout genuine intrigue
