The rivalry between Paddy Pimblett and Ilia Topuria has been rekindled, and this time, it’s more intense than ever. With Topuria’s recent decision to move up to the lightweight division, Pimblett can’t help but express his thoughts on the matter. In a recent interview on ‘Shak MMA’, Pimblett shared his honest opinion about Topuria’s decision, saying, “I was thinking, ‘You’re stupid, why have you moved up to this division?’ He’s small, only about 5’5″ or 5’6″ tall, I just don’t get it… He has the audacity to call me fat when he says he can’t make 145 pounds anymore… when he’s a midget. It just doesn’t make sense.”
Pimblett, who is set to face Michael Chandler in Miami next month, has been vocal about his thoughts on Topuria’s move. He believes that Topuria is trying to avoid tougher opponents in the featherweight division, where he would have had to face the likes of Volkanovski, Movsar Evloev, and Diego Lopes. “I think he ran from 145 pounds, to be honest, because he knew he wouldn’t have to face Volkanovski, who wasn’t coming off a knockout loss 12 weeks prior, which would have been a much tougher fight for him,” Pimblett said. “And then he would have had to fight Evloev and Lopes as well. I would have had more respect for Ilia if he had defended that belt two more times.”
Topuria’s decision to move up to the lightweight division has been explained by UFC boss Dana White, who stated that Topuria felt he had done everything he could in the featherweight division and his body could no longer handle the weight cut. Topuria typically weighs around 176-180 pounds outside of camp, which means he had to cut between 30-35 pounds for each fight in the featherweight division. By moving up to lightweight, he will have a more manageable weight cut of around 13-15 pounds.
However, Pimblett is not convinced that Topuria deserves a title shot in the lightweight division, which is widely considered one of the toughest in the UFC. “I don’t think he deserves a direct title shot,” Pimblett said. “I think he’ll have to fight someone in the top three if he wants a title shot.” With the likes of Charles Oliveira, Dustin Poirier, and Justin Gaethje lurking in the lightweight division, Topuria will certainly have his work cut out for him.
As the rivalry between Pimblett and Topuria continues to heat up, fans can expect a thrilling matchup between the two in the near future. But for now, Pimblett is focused on his upcoming fight against Michael Chandler, and Topuria will have to navigate the treacherous waters of the lightweight division if he wants to prove himself as a top contender.
Key Takeaways
- Paddy Pimblett and Ilia Topuria have a long-standing rivalry that has been rekindled with Topuria’s move to the lightweight division
- Pimblett believes Topuria is trying to avoid tougher opponents in the featherweight division
- Topuria’s decision to move up to lightweight has been explained by UFC boss Dana White, who stated that Topuria’s body could no longer handle the weight cut
- Pimblett does not think Topuria deserves a direct title shot in the lightweight division
What’s Next for Topuria?
As Topuria navigates the lightweight division, he will face a plethora of talented fighters, each with their own unique style and skillset. With Pimblett’s comments still ringing in his ears, Topuria will have to prove himself as a top contender in the division. Will he be able to overcome the challenges ahead and emerge as a title contender, or will he struggle to find his footing in the lightweight division? Only time will tell.
