Pimblett Wants a Big Fight with Topuria in the UFC: “I’d Send Him Back to Featherweight”

Paddy Pimblett has reignited his feud with Ilia Topuria. The Brit would love to face the former lightweight champion, and before that, he’d like to see them both serve as coaches on the next season of The Ultimate Fighter. In his opinion, such a rivalry could provide the UFC with exceptionally strong promotional material.

Paddy Pimblett returned to the winning path at UFC 329, where he impressively submitted Benoit Saint-Denis. For quite some time now, his name has been linked to Ilia Topuria, with whom he has been at odds for several years.

Topuria, for his part, wants to return to the Octagon after his loss to Justin Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250. If Gaethje were to decide to retire and vacate the lightweight championship belt, the Georgian could once again find himself very close to a title shot.

However, Arman Tsarukyan also remains in the running for the championship. This means that the Pimblett vs. Topuria matchup could serve as a title eliminator and, at the same time, definitively end their long-standing rivalry.

Pimblett Wants Topuria on “The Ultimate Fighter”

In an interview with Kolos MMA, Pimblett suggested that his rivalry with Topuria become the central theme of the next season of The Ultimate Fighter.

“I don’t have any fights scheduled right now, but I’d really like to face Ilia Topuria. I’d beat him so badly that I’d send him right back to the featherweight division,” said Pimblett.

The British man believes that their mutual dislike would be perfect for a TV show in which they would both serve as coaches for a few weeks.

– I think Ilia Topuria and I would make for a brilliant season of *The Ultimate Fighter*. I’d get under his skin so much that when it came time for our fight, I’d beat him just as quickly as [Conor] McGregor beat [Jose] Aldo.

Pimblett also has no doubt that the media buzz surrounding such a matchup would be enormous.

– Like I said, a press conference would be great. *The Ultimate Fighter* with the two of us for six weeks would be, to put it mildly, very entertaining.

Dana White has previously acknowledged that a bout between Pimblett and Topuria had the potential to be the main event of a major UFC card.

However, a lot may depend on Justin Gaethje’s next move and the situation in the lightweight title picture. If the path to the title is temporarily blocked for Topuria and Pimblett, a head-to-head matchup between them could turn out to be one of the most natural matchups in the division.