Paddy Pimblett still has his sights set on UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria.
Pimblett (22-3 MMA, 6-0 UFC) and Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) have been beefing for a while, including an altercation in London in March 2022, as well as a confrontation during the UFC 282 press conference.
Both have since found success, but Topuria’s career has reached another level. “El Matador” retained his featherweight title when he became the first man to knock out Max Holloway (26-8 MMA, 22-8 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC 308 main event in Abu Dhabi. Pimblett admits he didn’t think Topuria could take out Holloway in that fashion, but he remains confident that he would beat him if they ever crossed paths.
“Heavy, hand sanitizer boy with the win,” Pimblett said on his YouTube channel. “Heavy. Well done, Ilia. Give you your due, lad, 16-0 hand sanitizer boy. I can’t wait for him to come back up to lightweight. I still think I’d beat him, I really do. I still think I beat him, lad.
“Whether he just beat Max Holloway or not, I still think I’d beat him by kicking him on the feet or taking him down and submitting him, but I genuinely think I’d beat him. Congrats, Ilia Topuria. Well done, son. Congratulations, lad.”
Former champion Alexander Volkanovski will likely get his rematch with Topuria next, but if not, Pimblett welcomes Topuria at lightweight. “The Baddy” is coming off his biggest win to date, a first-round submission of King Green at UFC 304 this past July.
“Obviously hand sanitizer boy knocked Holloway out,” Pimblett said. “Didn’t see that coming, but give him his due, good finish. Max was the better boxer, but Ilia’s the better swinger, isn’t he? He ended up catching him with them big shots on the button, so congrats, fella. Can’t wait for Volk to come back and beat you up and if he doesn’t, I’m willing to anytime.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 308.
