Following Ilia Topuria`s impactful knockout victory over Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 in Las Vegas, which crowned him the new lightweight champion, not everyone in the mixed martial arts world is convinced he is the absolute best fighter at 155 pounds.
A notable voice expressing this sentiment is Paul Rimmer, the coach of fellow UFC lightweight Paddy Pimblett. In a recent interview, Rimmer asserted that despite Topuria`s impressive title-winning performance, he still ranks Islam Makhachev above the Spaniard in the lightweight division.
Pimblett`s Coach Explains Why Makhachev Remains Top Lightweight
Rimmer, who oversees training for `The Baddy` at Next Generation MMA in Liverpool, discussed his view on the hierarchy within the lightweight ranks. He stated unequivocally that he considers Makhachev, the former division champion, to be the superior fighter compared to the new titleholder, Topuria.
Elaborating on his assessment, Rimmer indicated that he would perceive a potential fight against Makhachev as a more formidable challenge than one against Topuria.
“If we were offered the two fights, Ilia and (Makhachev), I would be more worried about the (Makhachev) fight than the Ilia fight,” Rimmer said. “Islam, for me, is the guy in the division, the undefeated guy in the division. … He is undeniably the best lightweight in the world.”
This commentary from Pimblett`s coach comes amid growing speculation and tension between Topuria and Pimblett, including a recent physical confrontation, hinting at a potential future clash between the two.
Jens Pulver Predicts Topuria Could Knock Out Makhachev at Welterweight
Given Islam Makhachev`s potential plans to move up to the welterweight division, a direct lightweight title fight between him and Topuria might not be in the cards soon. However, the possibility of them meeting in a higher weight class has become a subject of considerable discussion.
While Topuria has reportedly informed the UFC he is not immediately seeking a move to welterweight to challenge Makhachev, many observers anticipate that `El Matador` may eventually pursue his goal of becoming a champion in multiple divisions.
Adding an interesting twist to this potential future matchup, UFC Hall of Famer Jens Pulver offered a bold prediction during a UFC 317 watch along session, forecasting that Topuria possesses the tools to knock out Makhachev should they ever compete at welterweight.
“He`s gonna knock them all out; that combination. Jab to the belly, boom, boom, those hooks inside, over!” Pulver exclaimed. “He`s gonna knock out Makhachev. I told you, he`s gonna go up to Makhachev, he`s gonna knock him out. That`s his goal.”
“Dude, he didn`t just knock (Oliveira) out, he hurt him, he hurt him bad. He knocked him unconscious. … He hits too hard,” Pulver added, highlighting the devastating power Topuria displayed in his recent championship win.
Thus, while Paddy Pimblett`s coach currently views Islam Makhachev as the lightweight division`s apex fighter, the dynamic could potentially shift if Ilia Topuria decides to test his skills against the Dagestani at welterweight, potentially challenging Rimmer`s assessment.
Gareth Pendleton