Paddy Pimblett rattled off a long list of potential next opponents following his one-sided beatdown of Michael Chandler at UFC 314 (highlights here), but one name was missing from that list: Ilia Topuria.
Pimblett and Topuria have been feuding for years, and have gotten into a few brawls and near-brawls. But now that “La Leyenda” is moving to lightweight and “The Baddy” is in range of a lightweight contender’s bout, Paddy didn’t say Ilia’s name in the cage.
That was just an accident, according to Pimblett.
“To be honest, I forgot about him,” the Liverpool fighter said at the UFC 314 post-fight press conference. “I forgot all about him, or I would have mentioned him in the cage … That’s how relevant he is. I’m ranked higher than he is at lightweight. So I’d love to welcome him to 155, but apparently he’s sitting out and waiting for the title shot.”
Paddy Pimblett Slams Ilia Topuria and Conor McGregor
“I’d love to welcome Topuria at lightweight. He’s more of a midget than Chandler is, and I’ll do exactly the same to him as I did to Chandler. Even McGregor put money on Chandler to win that one.”@MMAJunkie pic.twitter.com/c89Kbj2rpV
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) April 13, 2025
Pimblett sees a fight with Topuria going the same as his fight against Chandler.
“What I’ve just done to Chandler, I have the blueprint to beating him,” he declared. “He’s even more of a midget than Chandler is. Like, I’ll do the exact same things earlier than what I’ve done to Chandler. But as I say, anyone can get it. All the names I mentioned. Even McGregor, putting money on Chandler to win that.
Paddy seemed more hurt than angry that McGregor bet $500,000 on Chandler to KO him.
“Like, the Irish-Scouse connection, lad,” Pimblett said. “He’s meant to back me, and he never! So if he wants it, he’ll get muffed in as well. I didn’t think he’d go against me to be honest, I thought he’d back me, lad. Not back Chandler. But it’s one of those, innit?”
Whatever’s next, it won’t happen with a quick turnaround.
“The twins’ birthdays are on Thursday, I’m going on holiday Friday to celebrate,” Paddy said. “So yeah, I’m not fighting in the next couple of months.”
“I’ll still be training every day like I always do,” he added. “Even when I get fat I’m training every day. That’s why I get so much better in these little times off that I have. That’s why I have looked so much better since the Bobby Green fight, so much better since the Tony Ferguson fight. I’m never out the gym. Whether I put a couple of pounds on, I’m still never out the gym.”
“People underestimate me for that reason. They think, ‘Oh, he gets fat, so he doesn’t train.’ No. I just eat loads of food and still train.”
