Ilia Topuria is 2 weeks away from his UFC 317 conflict with Charles Oliveira that would finish with him turning into a two-division champion.
However there’s one other opponent that can at all times be in his sights.
Throughout an interview with ESPN Deportes, Topuria was requested about who he might battle sooner or later ought to be declare the vacant light-weight title on June 28, and he didn’t mince phrases when Paddy Pimblett’s identify got here up.
“He’s a hypocrite,” Topuria stated (Spanish translation by way of Championship Rounds). “I’ll inform you, I keep in mind we shared a press convention as soon as and he stated one thing like, ‘I’m preventing on the principle card and also you’re on the prelims,’ some type of nonsense. And now I’m pondering, I’ve two [featherweight] belts, who’re you? Who the f*ck is Paddy Pimblett proper now? And why would he need to battle me proper now?
“Actually, if I might select a battle, I might battle him as a result of I hate him. He’s a ache within the ass.”
Topuria’s beef with Pimblett goes again years, with the 2 clashing at motels and at press conferences as they rose up by way of the UFC ranks. An precise battle hasn’t been within the playing cards with Topuria competing at 145 kilos, the place he captured a world title, and Pimblett presently contending at 155 kilos. Nonetheless, with Topuria having vacated his featherweight title to maneuver up a division, all of the sudden he and Pimblett are in the identical orbit.
Ought to they ever be paired up, Topuria believes followers will probably be thrilled to see a battle constructed on real animosity.
“I’d love to present that battle to the followers as a result of for a very long time, I imagine that within the UFC you haven’t seen an actual battle,” Topuria stated. “Two individuals who actually wish to battle one another and what higher manner than to battle in entrance of everybody and placed on a present. I do know what’s going to occur and it received’t be good for him.”
Pimblett is definitely near a title shot, having rattled off 9 consecutive wins together with a flawless 7-0 report within the UFC. His previous three wins have been dominant outings in opposition to Michael Chandler, King Inexperienced, and Tony Ferguson, and yet another win might put him in place to be Topuria’s first light-weight title challenger if all the pieces goes in accordance with plan.
The undefeated Topuria hopes it occurs, however warns individuals to not be stunned by the end result. Requested to elaborate on what’s going to occur to Pimblett of their battle, Topuria was brief:
“What’s occurred with everybody else.”
