Paddy Pimblett Eyes The Ultimate Fighter Coaching Role Against Ilia Topuria

Paddy Pimblett has made his pitch for a coaching spot on The Ultimate Fighter, and he wants Ilia Topuria standing across from him. The Liverpool native said he would love to lead a team opposite the Spaniard, arguing that their long-running rivalry would produce one of the most entertaining seasons the show has had.

No such season has been announced, and the idea so far rests on Pimblett's own stated wish. The UFC has not commented on the suggestion.

Pimblett, 31, is 24-4-0 and ranks fifth in the lightweight division. The English fighter trains out of Next Generation MMA Liverpool and is known for his forward-moving style. He lands 5.48 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy, and averages 1.4 submission attempts per 15 minutes. Standing five-foot-ten with a 73-inch reach, he carries a size advantage over Topuria.

Topuria, 29, sits at the top of the lightweight rankings at 17-1-0 and is also ranked first in the pound-for-pound list. The Spanish fighter, who trains with Climent Club, lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute with 48 percent accuracy. He is five-foot-seven with a 69-inch reach and averages 1.96 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside 1.1 submission attempts.

Why it matters

• Pimblett is keeping the feud with Topuria in the public eye, and the coaching pitch frames it as a full-season storyline rather than a single bout.
• The two sit at very different points in the lightweight division, with Topuria ranked first and Pimblett fifth, which adds weight to any talk of a meeting.
• The style contrast is clear on paper: Pimblett's higher output and reach against Topuria's takedown numbers and accuracy.

For now, the suggestion is a fighter's public wish rather than a planned matchup. Whether the UFC has any interest in building a season around the pair remains to be seen.