MIAMI – Paddy Pimblett made an announcement together with his efficiency Saturday at UFC 314. He then made a callout, or a collection of them, on the microphone.
4 names got here to thoughts: Justin Gaethje, Dustin Poirier, Charles Oliveira, and Arman Tsarukyan. One title was notedly lacking, nonetheless.
Ilia Topuria was not talked about. However why?
“To be trustworthy, I forgot about him,” Pimblett laughed, throughout a post-fight information convention. “I forgot all about him or I might’ve talked about him within the cage, you already know what I imply? I don’t name him ‘Hand Sanitizer Boy’ any extra. … However like I mentioned, I actually forgot all about him. That’s how irrelevant he’s. I’m ranked increased than he’s at light-weight, so I’d like to welcome him to 155.
Pimblett (23-3 MMA, 7-0 UFC) and Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) have historical past stemming again to a March 2022 resort altercation and on-line trash discuss that led as much as it.
Pimblett completed Michael Chandler at Kaseya Heart on Saturday, the consensus greatest win over his profession. In response to Pimblett, there are quite a lot of similarities between what he did to Chandler (23-10 MMA, 2-5 UFC) and what he’d do to Topuria.
“Apparently, he’s sitting out and ready for the title shot,” Pimblett mentioned. What I simply did to Chandler is half the blue print of beating him. He’s much more of a midget than Chandler is. I’ll do the very same factor of what I did to Chandler. However as I mentioned, anybody can get it, all of the names I discussed. And even McGregor, placing cash on Chandler to win, lad? Like, the Irish-Scouse connection, lad. He’s meant to again me however he by no means (does).”
A technique or one other, Pimblett is gunning for title gold. He hopes for yet another contender combat after which a championship bout. 2026 is his goal 12 months to be topped.
“I need to be a world champion,” Pimblett mentioned. “I’ve all the time mentioned that I’m going to be a world champion and beating a former champion like Charles Oliveira, who had two title defenses, he will get known as the most effective submission artist the division has ever seen. So I’d wish to go up towards that as a result of I feel I’ve bought higher submissions than Charles Oliveira. … I f*cking hope so. 2026, I need that belt wrapped round my waist.”
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