The Spanish-Georgian Ilia Topuria has doubled down; he desires Paddy Pimblett subsequent. Ilia Topuria made historical past at UFC 317, held at T-Cellular Enviornment in Las Vegas on June 29, 2025, by knocking out former champion Charles Oliveira in the primary occasion to assert the vacant UFC light-weight title. Topuria wanted simply 2 minutes and 27 seconds of the primary spherical to complete Oliveira, connecting with a pointy proper hand and a devastating left hook that left Oliveira unconscious on the canvas. The victory made Topuria a two-division champion, having beforehand held the featherweight belt, and he stays undefeated with a 17-0 skilled document.
Ilia Topuria Desires Paddy Pimblett
Instantly after his win, Ilia Topuria known as out Paddy Pimblett, who was current within the viewers. Pimblett entered the octagon, resulting in a heated face-off that reignited a long-simmering rivalry between the 2 fighters. Topuria pushed Pimblett away throughout the confrontation, and each males exchanged phrases, a lot to the joy of the sold-out crowd of 19,800 followers.
Talking to the UFC in a current interview, ‘El Matador’ defined his callout of Paddy Pimblett, Ilia Topuria stated:
“With Paddy, it will likely be significantly better. I desire to combat guys that I actually wish to combat. I have already got a nickname for him—he’s a pimple! With Paddy, I actually would take pleasure in punching him within the face. I do know I can do with him no matter I wish to do—even inform me, ‘God, inform me what you need me to do with you.’ I’m going to do no matter I wish to do. I don’t wish to use dangerous phrases, however yeah, that’s the man I wish to combat subsequent!”
The animosity between Ilia Topuria and Paddy Pimblett dates again a number of years, with the roots of their feud traced to feedback made by Pimblett in regards to the Russo-Georgian Conflict throughout a UFC occasion in London, which deeply offended Topuria, who’s of Georgian descent. The 2 almost got here to blows at a lodge throughout that combat week, and the rivalry has since been fueled by exchanges on social media and in interviews.
Paddy Pimblett, a former Cage Warriors champion who joined the UFC in 2021, is ranked No. 8 at light-weight and has rapidly grow to be one of the vital widespread fighters within the promotion attributable to his charisma and combating model. Topuria, in the meantime, has solidified his fame as one of many sport’s elite with a string of knockout victories over former champions Alexander Volkanovski, Max Holloway, and now Charles Oliveira.
UFC 317 was one of the vital anticipated occasions of 2025, that includes two championship bouts and setting new data for attendance and reside gate, with 19,800 followers and over $11 million in ticket gross sales. Topuria’s knockout of Oliveira was a defining second, as Oliveira had by no means been completed in such style earlier than.
Regardless of the clear need from each Topuria and Pimblett to combat one another, UFC CEO Dana White expressed dissatisfaction with the post-fight face-off, stating it was “a nasty name by whoever let him in there” and that Topuria’s household was within the octagon on the time. White didn’t affirm Pimblett as Topuria’s subsequent opponent, leaving the matchup unsure for now.
Nevertheless, each fighters have made it clear they need the combat, and the rivalry is extensively seen as one of the vital compelling within the sport, with Pimblett likening it to the historic feud between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor.
