The UFC thrives on rivalries and perhaps none have the venom that’s been brewing between Paddy Pimblett and Ilia Topuria. From hand sanitizer bottles being thrown in hotel lobbies to scathing social media jabs, their feud has been simmering for a while. With both men making it clear, this is beyond just simple dislike and rivalry.
But with Topuria recently vacating his featherweight belt and moving up to lightweight, a new chapter may be unfolding. While some see this as an opportunity for ‘El Matador’ to cement his legacy, ‘The Baddy’ sees it as a disaster waiting to happen. Why?
Ilia Topuria sends alarm bells ringing for Ilia Topuria’s lightweight ambitions with a brutal statement
With the move to 155 lbs, Ilia Topuria is finally close to his goal of challenging Islam Makhachev for his crown. But according to Paddy Pimblett, the road to the gold won’t be that easy.
According to a clip of his interview with ‘Round Eight Boxing’, shared on Instagram by ‘Championship Rounds’, the Liverpool native didn’t hold anything back as he stated, “I can’t see him get the title shot straight away, I think he’s going to have to fight like an Arman, Charles, if he wants to get a title shot.”
‘The Baddy’ made it clear if Topuria wants to be king at lightweight, he’ll have to go through the division’s killers first. When the interviewer brought up the prospect of settling the score inside the Octagon against Topuria, Pimblett didn’t hesitate as he stated, “Oh, that’s a fight I want. I want that fight. That’s another one just to prove everyone wrong.”
But it wasn’t just about proving a point. Pimblett made it clear that he believes Topuria is making a grave mistake. How? According to him, “He’s a midget, lad. He’s not a lightweight. He shouldn’t be fighting at lightweight. He should’ve stuck at featherweight. And it’s going to be the downfall of his career.”
In his eyes, Ilia Topuria is walking into a division where size, power, and durability are at a different level. UFC CEO Dana White, however, in his announcement of Topuria’s move stated, “Topuria has felt like he’s done all he can in that division, and he feels like he’s cemented his legacy, and his body cannot make the weight anymore…”
As such, even if Topuria wanted to continue his reign at featherweight, his body wasn’t allowing him to cut down to 145 lbs. anymore. Still, the question remains, was it worth leaving the featherweight division behind to chase greatness? Because the UFC boss recently dropped another massive bombshell about the prospect of ‘El Matador’ vs the Dagestani lightweight king!
Dana White reveals “other possibilities” on the table for Topuria at lightweight
Did Ilia Topuria make a mistake by vacating his featherweight title? At the recent UFC Seattle post-fight press conference, Dana White revealed that ‘El Matador’ made the decision himself, not out of obligation, but necessity.
White confessed, “He said, ‘I shouldn’t be holding up anybody’s opportunities.’ I respect when guys do that.”
No controversy, no hesitation, just a fighter convinced that his time at featherweight had reached its natural conclusion. However, many fans expected Ilia Topuria’s next chapter to be written in gold, an instant title shot at lightweight against Islam Makhachev.
But according to the UFC boss, “There’s still other possibilities, a lot of sh*t going on right now, otherwise I would have said [what his fight was going to be].”
Topuria may have conquered featherweight, but lightweight is a different battlefield entirely. As highlighted by ‘The Baddy’, 155 lbs. is no playground. Fighters like Arman Tsarukyan and Charles Oliveira, have spent years sharpening their weapons in one of the UFC’s most unforgiving divisions.
Although Pimblett is currently scheduled to take on Michael Chandler at UFC 314, a grudge match between him and ‘El Matador’ could also be an intriguing clash, if he wins. And possibly act as Topuria’s welcome to the lightweight shark tank. But would that fight prove anything? Or is Topuria truly destined for something bigger, like a clash with Islam Makhachev? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
The post “It’s Going to Be the Downfall of His Career” – Ilia Topuria’s Celebrations Cut Short as Paddy Pimblett Seeks UFC Revenge appeared first on EssentiallySports.
