Paddy Pimblett is going on the offensive as he anticipates a showdown against UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria in early 2026.
All signs are pointing towards the longtime rivals finally settling their grudge with Topuria vs. Pimblett possibly headlining the first-ever UFC card on Paramount+ in January. Their shared history dates back to 2022 when they got into a physical altercation ahead of a UFC event in London, and the disdain between them has only grown stronger.
“He tried to jump me,” Pimblett said about the incident when speaking to Marca. “When I was on my own and he was with like 10 other people, he tried to attack me. Made himself famous off the back of my name. He thinks he’s too good to fight me. You wouldn’t be where you’re at without me.”
At the time, Topuria was competing at featherweight and Pimblett at lightweight, so matching them up together didn’t really make any sense. That all changed after Topuria vacated his 145-pound title and declared plans to move up to lightweight, where he thrashed Charles Oliveira back in June to claim the 155-pound title.
Truth be told, Pimblett believes he should have already had his shot at Topuria as soon as he made the move up to a new division, but now the potential fight has even more stakes with UFC gold going up for grabs.
“I said when he moved up to lightweight, I should be the one to welcome him,” Pimblett said. “I should have been his first fight at lightweight. But it never happened, and he got gifted a title shot.”
The rivalry between Pimblett and Topuria runs even deeper when it comes to their shared passion for soccer, although “The Baddy” isn’t so sure their fandom is anywhere close to the same.
After winning his first UFC title, Topuria was celebrated during a Real Madrid game, and he has expressed interest in eventually holding a fight at the famed Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid.
But Pimblett doesn’t buy that Topuria is actually that dedicated to the soccer club, especially when it comes to his ties to both Spain and Georgia
“If we’re being honest, Topuria’s not Spanish,” Pimblett said. “Let’s just get that out there straight away. He’s German. He fakes to be Georgian and Spanish to get more fans when he was born in Germany. He is a German.”
Topuria was indeed born in Germany to Georgian parents, who were refugees, and his family eventually moved back to Georgia when he was still a child. Several years later, Topuria’s family relocated again — this time to Spain — and that has largely remained his home ever since.
Pimblett still isn’t buying it, and he believes Topuria is using fans from Georgia and Spain to boost his popularity in the sport.
“He just jumped on the coattails to get more fans and more followers,” Pimblett said. “He’s fake. He’s so fake, like half his followers. It’s been proven, half his followers on Instagram are bought. He’s the fakest person ever. He’s just a [Conor] McGregor copycat and I’m getting sick of him.”
Judging by Pimblett’s latest attack, it seems almost inevitable that he’s going to eventually get his chance to settle things with Topuria in the octagon.
Is that going to happen in January? Only time will tell.
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