What happens when Paddy Pimblett speaks his mind? You listen because there’s always fire behind the words. And this time, his aim is fixed firmly on Ilia Topuria along with Dana White and the UFC brass. While fans are still reeling from his UFC 314 statement performance against Michael Chandler, the verbose Liverpudlian is already shifting gears.
How? ‘The Baddy’ is calling out what he sees as a pattern of handpicked fights for the undefeated Topuria. Could it be true? Is the UFC stacking the deck to push the former featherweight champion? Let’s take a look at what Pimblett had to say!
Paddy Pimblett fires off a salvo at Ilia Topuria, with Dana White getting caught in the crossfire
During a recent chat on the TNT Sports YouTube channel with Adam Catterall, Paddy Pimblett was asked about the possibility of him facing Ilia Topuria for the lightweight title in the near future. As Catterall put it, “When you actually think back to the altercation in the London Hotel from that moment to actually leading us to a lightweight world title fight, I mean that is a crazy narrative, isn’t it? You could’ve written it, it’s movie stuff.”
Let’s rewind. It all started in a London hotel lobby in 2022. Pimblett and Ilia Topuria, already trading jabs online, clashed face-to-face. Hand sanitizer bottles flew everywhere. So did insults. Security intervened before things got uglier. That encounter lit the fuse. Now, years later, the tension hasn’t fizzled. It’s only grown hotter.
And with Topuria set to face Charles Oliveira for the vacant lightweight title at UFC 317, Pimblett couldn’t help but speak out as he confessed, “Yeah, it’s like four years in the making or something. And you know, he has done a lot in the sport since then, but I do still think he’s being hand-fed opponents.”
Harsh words. But he didn’t stop there. Pimblett broke down Topuria’s win streak and saw more smoke than fire as he went off by stating, “Holloway, just been fighting at 155, had to get back to 45 and had a war with Gaethje. Volk had just been knocked out like two months earlier, three months earlier. Josh Emmet is like 37. Bryce, as much as I love Bryce, we know he’s not a striker, you know what I mean.”
He didn’t question his opponent’s skills, but he questioned the circumstances that led to Dana White and the UFC offering him those specific matchups. Then came the challenge. According to Pimblett, “Every fight he got before the title, Michael Chandler beats every single one of them. I think Bobby Green beats every single one of them. And I don’t think he beats Volk if Volk hadn’t been knocked out three months previous.”
December 23, 2023, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA: PADDY PIMBLETT 21-3-0 of Huyton, United Kingdom defeats TONY FERGUSON 26-10-0 of Oxnard, California by unanimous decision 30-27, 30-27, 30-27 during UFC 296 at T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas Las Vegas USA – ZUMAo117 20231223_zsp_o117_011 Copyright: xMikaelxOnax
But this isn’t just trash talk. Paddy Pimblett’s words come at a time when he’s silenced many critics. His dominant win over Chandler flipped the narrative. Before that fight, calling for a shot at Oliveira or Justin Gaethje felt like wishful thinking. Now? Not so much. ‘The Baddy’ has proved he can deliver when it counts. Meanwhile, Topuria’s rise continues with his upcoming title bout, but if you ask Pimblett, those dreams have come on a silver platter, hand-delivered by the UFC and the Bossman.
Yet, the British star has remained unfazed. And with his recent performances backing up his confidence, he has now thrown down the gauntlet and put the lightweight elite on notice!
‘The Baddy’ plots his route to the lightweight title, and the road goes straight through Justin Gaethje
The lightweight throne now sits empty. Islam Makhachev has stepped aside to chase welterweight glory, leaving behind a division hungry for a new king. Enter UFC 317, where the belt is on the line for Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira. But while all eyes are on the title, Paddy Pimblett is quietly biding his time, waiting for the perfect moment.
In his conversation with TNT Sports, the undefeated British star stated, “It’s probably better for me if Ilia wins the belt, because he’ll probably call me out, then I could just fight him. I don’t even have to fight Gaethje.”
But the Scouser’s loyalty complicates things. Why? He confessed that he’s a fan of ‘Do Bronx’ and wants him to win the title again, but if ‘El Matador’ claims gold in another weight class, “I’ll more than likely be his first title defense.” Yet, no matter who gets their hand raised in Las Vegas, Pimblett’s next move is clear.
If it’s not a title shot, he wants Justin Gaethje because, “I know for a fact if I beat Gaethje, I’m next in line.” His choice of venue? The October PPV in Abu Dhabi. And he’s already confident that, “After what I’ve done to (Michael) Chandler, I think I finish Justin Gaethje.”
So, where does that leave us in this chaotic chess game at 155 pounds? Paddy Pimblett isn’t just throwing names around for clout. He’s plotting his course. Every jab at Ilia Topuria, every name dropped, every quote, it’s part of a bigger plan. The same man who once tossed hand sanitizer in a hotel lobby is now targeting UFC gold with laser focus.
What do you think? Will Ilia Topuria settle the score after he wins the title? Or will ‘The Baddy’ have to prove himself against Justin Gaethje to get his chance at championship glory? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
The post Paddy Pimblett Accuses Dana White & Co. of Cherry-Picking Fights for Ilia Topuria appeared first on EssentiallySports.
