The UFC might want to put their security on high alert in Qatar because things are starting to get spicy between Ilia Topuria and Paddy Pimblett over there.
Topuria and Pimblett are no strangers to scrums.
Pimblett bounced a hand sanitizer bottle off Topuria’s head after the Georgian fighter came at him during UFC London fight week in 2022. Several months later, security had to separate the two during a UFC 282 press conference. Most recently, Pimblett defied UFC higher ups and got into the cage following Topuria’s win at UFC 317. That ended with Topuria shoving Pimblett, and fans demanding to see them fight.
There have also been some amicable run-ins as well, and both seemed ready to go that route in Qatar when their teams encountered each other … until things took a sideways turn. Pimblett is in Qatar cornering teammates Luke Riley and Shem Rock, while Ilia is there for his brother Aleksandre Topuria’s second UFC fight.
“What’s up, bro?” Topuria said as his team walked towards the hotel entrance (video via KOlmeneroMMA).
“What’s happening, you all right?” Pimblett said, giving Topuria a thumbs up from across the hotel courtyard.
Maybe Topuria took that as a reference to Pimblett’s comments accusing the lightweight champion of refusing to sign a contract to fight. You all right? You injured? Why aren’t you signing the contract to fight me? Or maybe Ilia just didn’t like Paddy’s stupid joking tone. Whatever the case, “El Matador” was clearly annoyed.
“P-ssy,” Topuria declared.
“Come on chorizo, calm down,” Pimblett replied.
While the two never got more than 20 feet from each other, security quickly converged on the spot with three large men casually blocking Pimblett from following Topuria into the hotel.
Paddy Pimblett has all the reasons in the world to cause a ruckus in Qatar. His war of words and in-cage shoving match have made him the big money fight option for Topuria as the lightweight champion awaits the UFC’s decision on who he’ll fight next. While Justin Gaethje was the odds on favorite to have ‘next,’ we’re hearing that a big performance from Arman Tsarukyan could put him back in the top spot … and he’d be ready for January.
Pimblett knows he has to make some waves and re-ignite interest in a Paddy vs. Ilia fight, and let’s be honest: that bout is only interesting because of the potential drama it will generate outside the cage. So Paddy better get “Baddy” and make something happen or there’s no chance he gets the next title shot.
Stay on your toes, security!
