UFC lightweight contender Paddy Pimblett has sent a pointed message to his long-standing rival, Ilia Topuria, as Topuria prepares for his upcoming lightweight title opportunity at UFC 317.
Former UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria is set to challenge Charles Oliveira for the vacant UFC lightweight championship at UFC 317. This matchup comes after speculation regarding a potential fight between Topuria and Islam Makhachev, with Makhachev ultimately vacating the title to pursue a move to the welterweight division, clearing the path for Topuria and Oliveira to contend for the belt.
Following a previous promise from the UFC, Topuria receives an immediate shot at the lightweight title, having vacated his featherweight belt earlier in the year (which was subsequently won by Alexander Volkanovski against Diego Lopes at UFC 314).
Should Topuria defeat Oliveira and claim the belt at UFC 317, he would have numerous potential opponents for his first title defense. Among the most compelling candidates is Paddy Pimblett, whose name has been linked to a clash with Topuria following a bitter three-year rivalry.
Paddy Pimblett reignites Ilia Topuria feud as UFC 317 looms
Pimblett extended his unbeaten streak in the UFC with a victory over Michael Chandler in the co-main event of UFC 314. Following his win, Pimblett publicly challenged Topuria during the post-fight press conference, though he also dismissed Topuria`s relevance in the lightweight title landscape at that time.
Following his impressive win, Pimblett is potentially positioning himself for a future title opportunity. His history with Topuria is fraught, highlighted by a notable physical confrontation at a fighter hotel back in 2022.
Despite sharing a brief, seemingly civil moment while supporting their respective teammates at UFC 312, the animosity between Pimblett and Topuria persists. With Pimblett advancing towards potential title contention, a confrontation between the British fighter and `El Matador` appears increasingly probable.
While Pimblett may not publicly favor either fighter in the vacant title bout at UFC 317, he has made his intentions clear: if Topuria emerges victorious, Pimblett aims to decisively finish his long-standing rival.
Recently, Pimblett took to Instagram, sharing a photo of his headkick against Michael Chandler accompanied by a thinly veiled message seemingly directed at Topuria.
In his post, Pimblett wrote: “Can’t wait to land one of these on el chorizo.”
As of the time of reporting, Topuria has not publicly responded to Pimblett`s comment. Topuria`s last fight was his dominant knockout victory over BMF titleholder Max Holloway at UFC 308 in October.
Ilia Topuria refuses to grant Islam Makhachev an immediate title shot with UFC 317 win
The prospect of a Topuria vs. Pimblett clash is further heightened by Topuria`s recent comments regarding Islam Makhachev. Topuria stated that he would not grant Makhachev an immediate lightweight title shot if Makhachev were to return to the division, seemingly referencing Makhachev`s apparent reluctance to face him previously.
Makhachev is reportedly expected to challenge the newly crowned UFC welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena later this year in an attempt to secure a second divisional title. His last fight was a win over Renato Moicano at UFC 311, and the opportunity at welterweight arose after Della Maddalena defeated Belal Muhammad at UFC 315.
The title pictures in both the UFC lightweight and welterweight divisions remain dynamic and unpredictable, promising exciting matchups for MMA fans in the near future.
Gareth Pendleton