Paddy Pimblett took a shot at Ilia Topuria: He’s too small for the lightweight division

Paddy Pimblett believes that Ilia Topuria does not have the physical attributes necessary to compete consistently in the UFC lightweight division. The Englishman is convinced that if the two were to face off, the Spaniard would quickly realize he should return to the featherweight division.

Ilia Topuria lost his lightweight championship belt at the UFC Freedom 250 event in June, which took place at the White House. In the unification bout, he was defeated by Justin Gaethje. “El Matador” did not come out for the final round after suffering a fractured eye socket and serious facial injuries. It was the Spaniard’s first loss of his professional career.

Pimblett: After fighting me, he’ll return to the featherweight division

In an interview on Barstool’s ” Spinning Backfist MMA Show,” Paddy Pimblett said that Topuria’s move to a higher weight class was a mistake.

“I always say it, we have weight classes for a reason,” Pimblett said. “Ilia Topuria is a fat featherweight. He’s not a lightweight lad, and if I ever fight him, people will realize that. If he fights me, he will move back down to ’45 because he will realize how small he is for the weight.”

The Englishman also admitted that Justin Gaethje’s victory over Topuria served as additional motivation for him. After his January loss to “The Highlight,” he had been wondering how far he could still go in the UFC. As he revealed, however, even before the event, he had predicted that Gaethje would pull off an upset and defeat the then-undefeated champion.

Although the rivalry between Pimblett and Topuria has been electrifying MMA fans for years, there’s no indication that their bout will take place anytime soon. On July 11, “The Baddy” will compete at UFC 329, where he will face Benoit Saint Denis. The same event will feature the long-awaited return of Conor McGregor, who will face Max Holloway.

Sam Topuria, on the other hand, will have to be patient. Following his loss to Gaethje, he received a six-month medical suspension, which may be shortened once he receives medical clearance to return to competition. However, many observers believe that “El Matador” may not return to the Octagon before the end of 2026.