Paddy Pimblett believes there’s a chance Ilia Topuria gets stripped of his lightweight title.
Earlier this year, Topuria won the lightweight title by knocking out Charles Oliveira at UFC 317. While many
expected Topuria to make the first defense of his new belt early in 2026, Topuria instead announced he was taking some time off for personal reasons. As a result, Paddy Pimblett now faces Justin Gaethje for an interim lightweight title next month at UFC 324, and “The Baddy” believes this belt could end up being the undisputed title soon.
“No idea. He’s got a lot going on in his personal life. I wish him nothing but the best with it,” Pimblett told Carlos Legaspi. “That’s nothing to do with me and him fighting. That’s his family, and I hope everything goes well. I hope that goes perfect for him.
“All I care about is getting him in that octagon and fighting him. Anything in his personal life, I hope it goes well, but you never know. If he doesn’t come back by June, July, he might have to vacate his belt, and I’ll become undisputed champ without even fighting.”
Pimblett has a long-standing rivalry with Topuria, dating back to when Topuria accosted Pimblett at a hotel during UFC London Fight Week in 2022. Since then, the two have traded shots at each other and even faced off with each other after Topuria won the lightweight title. But for all the animosity between them personally, Pimblett acknowledges that Topuria is an elite opponent.
“I definitely have more respect for him,” Pimblett said. “Because when he started all that shit back then, I didn’t even know who he was. When he started to attack me in the hotel, I didn’t know who he was. I genuinely did not know who Ilia Topuria was. And I didn’t think he’d be this good, I’m not going to lie. I thought he was just using my name to get big off, and he did.
“He used my name to get more well-known and to have more people know who he was, but he’s a very good fighter. Even though I don’t like him, I wouldn’t lie and say that he’s not. He does that sometimes about me. But I have got respect for him as a fighter, but not as a person.”
And should the future come to pass as Pimblett has suggested, with Pimblett winning the title and being promoted to undisputed champion while Topuria manages his personal issues, Pimblett knows who he’d like to defend his belt against, and it’s not No. 1 contender Arman Tsarukyan.
“I think it would do more for me legacy fighting Charles [Oliveira] or Max [Holloway],” Pimblett said. “And I love watching both of them fight. I’ve said for years now, me vs. Charles Oliveira would be an amazing fight. I’d love to fight Charles Oliveira. That’s if he can get past Max Holloway.
“So, Arman can just sit in line and do as he’s told. He doesn’t do as he’s told enough because he thinks that his dad can pay his way out of things, because he’s got a lot of money. But Arman can eat shit. I’m sick of hearing about him. He’s an absolute beaut.”
Holloway and Oliveira rematch each other for the “BMF” title in the main event of UFC 326 on March 7, in Las Vegas. Meanwhile, Pimblett takes on Gaethje at UFC 324 on Jan. 24, also in Las Vegas.
