UFC lightweight contender Paddy Pimblett appears ready to renew hostilities with featherweight kingpin Ilia Topuria.
Pimblett and Topuria developed a sudden feud in 2022 after the latter took offense to remarks made about Georgia by the Liverpool native. They almost came to blows at the fighter hotel ahead of their respective matchups on a UFC Fight Night card in London.
At the time, the pair appeared to be on a collision course. Since then, however, “El Matador” has moved clear of “The Baddy” when it comes to UFC status, dropping to 145 pounds and capturing the crowd. Knockouts of Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway in 2024 have left him a leading candidate for the Fighter of the Year accolade.
2025, however, could see a major career switch for Topuria, who recently outlined his plan to vacate the 145-pound gold and permanently return to lightweight.
And it didn’t take long for Pimblett to take notice…
“New blood at 155?” Pimblett wrote on Instagram.
The Scouser still has some places to make up on the 155-pound ladder to put himself in the conversation for a clash against Topuria.
With champion Islam Makhachev preoccupied dealing with the threat posed by Arman Tsarukyan, “El Matador” has called for a title eliminator opposite the #2-ranked Charles Oliveira.
Pimblett, meanwhile, sits 11 places lower than “do Bronx” in the pecking order, with his most recent wins coming over Tony Ferguson and King Green.
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