Paddy Pimblett loves the idea of TUF with Ilia Topuria One of the biggest feuds in MMA right now and has been for a number of years is Ilia Topuria vs Paddy Pimblett and the fans just can't wait to see these two step in the cage. In a recent Interview Pimblett said he would love to do TUF with Topuria and every fan knows if this happens, it will only be a matter of time before the contracts get signed Is this the biggest fight in the UFC atm?
Paddy Pimblett says he would welcome the chance to coach opposite Ilia Topuria on a season of The Ultimate Fighter, a pairing that would put two of the sport's most talked-about rivals in the same house for weeks. Pimblett made the comments in a recent interview, adding fuel to a feud that has simmered for years and that fans keep asking to see settled in the cage.
No fight has been announced, and nothing indicates that a TUF season featuring the pair is in the works. The idea, for now, is Pimblett's enthusiasm and the appetite of the fanbase.
The fighters
Topuria, nicknamed El Matador, is 17-1-0 and ranks first in the lightweight division. He also sits at number one in the pound-for-pound rankings. The 29-year-old Spaniard trains out of Climent Club and fights from an orthodox stance. At five-foot-seven with a 69-inch reach, he lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy, and averages 1.96 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Pimblett, known as The Baddy, is 24-4-0 and ranked fifth at lightweight. The 31-year-old Englishman represents Next Generation MMA Liverpool and also fights orthodox. He stands five-foot-ten with a 73-inch reach, giving him a clear size advantage on paper. Pimblett lands 5.48 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy and averages 1.4 submission attempts per 15 minutes, a figure that underlines his grappling threat.
Why it matters
- The two share a division, with Topuria at the top of the lightweight rankings and Pimblett inside the top five.
- The matchup contrasts Topuria's precise, powerful striking and takedown mix with Pimblett's volume and submission-hunting style.
- A TUF coaching stint would stage the build-up on camera, though no such plan has been reported.
For fans, the appeal is simple: a long-running rivalry between two high-ranking lightweights with very different personalities and styles. Whether the UFC ever acts on Pimblett's interest remains to be seen.
