British UFC fighter Paddy Pimblett has expressed his readiness to face his long-standing rival, Ilia Topuria, despite initially demanding a rematch with the newly crowned undisputed lightweight champion, Justin Gaethje. Topuria recently suffered his first professional defeat, losing his lightweight title to Gaethje via a fourth-round corner stoppage at UFC Freedom 250 in Washington D.C.
Pimblett, who himself lost to Gaethje by unanimous decision for the interim title in January, had been vocal about his desire for a second shot at the American. However, when questioned by The Independent about a potential bout with Topuria, Pimblett stated, “Sound, let’s go,” indicating his willingness to take the fight if offered.
Despite this openness, Pimblett believes that a showdown with Topuria is unlikely to happen before the end of the year. Following his defeat, UFC President Dana White suggested that Topuria might have sustained a broken orbital bone, potentially requiring surgery. Pimblett stated, “He needs to apparently get a lot of surgeries and all the stuff like that. If he needs surgeries on his face, he’s not fighting until next year.” This would push any potential clash into 2025, by which time Pimblett aims to have had another fight.
The rivalry between Pimblett and Topuria intensified after an altercation in London in 2022, leading to frequent verbal exchanges. While Pimblett revelled in Topuria's defeat, he also acknowledged Topuria's personal struggles, including a highly publicised divorce that has kept him out of the octagon for a year. However, Pimblett dismissed the notion that these personal issues contributed to Topuria’s loss, noting that many had predicted Topuria would overcome Gaethje despite his personal circumstances.
Pimblett also found a sense of vindication in Gaethje's victory, having faced criticism for his own loss to the American. He highlighted that he went five rounds with Gaethje, whom he had predicted would win, and made the fight competitive, contrasting it with Topuria's corner stoppage. Pimblett is currently scheduled to face Benoit Saint-Denis on 11 July, and he hopes to secure a quick victory to allow for another fight before the year concludes.
Source: The Independent