Paddy Pimblett would like to welcome Ilia Topuria to the light-weight division after the very best efficiency of his profession at UFC 314.
Within the co-main occasion of Saturday’s card in Miami, Pimblett decimated and stopped Michael Chandler to maneuver to 7-0 within the UFC.
An enormous battle awaits “The Baddy,” and quite a lot of followers wish to see Pimbett’s rivalry with former featherweight champ Ilia Topuria play out within the octagon. Pimblett was requested about that potential bout after calling out the likes of Justin Gaethje, Charles Oliveira, and Arman Tsarukyan in his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan.
“To be sincere, I forgot about him,” Pimblett stated. “I forgot all about him, or I might’ve talked about him within the cage. … That’s how irrelevant he’s. I’m ranked greater than he’s at light-weight so I’d like to welcome him at 155, however apparently he’s sitting out and ready for the title shot.
“However what I’ve simply achieved to Chandler, [that’s] the blueprint to beating him. I’ll do the very same factor to Ilia what I’ve achieved to Chandler.”
Pimblett hopes to battle for the light-weight title in 2026 by securing one other victory, and irrespective of who that’s — whether or not it’s Islam Makhachev, or anyone else — the rising star will likely be able to do what’s crucial.
“I’ve seen stuff the place Islam may retire after one other protection or two, or if [Jack Della Maddalena] beats Belal Muhammad, he’ll transfer up and battle for the welterweight belt,” Pimblett defined. “I do not know, however clearly you prepare to battle the very best, so I’m coaching to battle Islam Makhachev, however he won’t even be the champion by the point I get there.
“We’re simply going to must see what occurs. You’ve obtained to let all of it play out, haven’t you? Whoever’s in entrance of me, that’s who I battle. Whoever the UFC sends me… that’s who I battle subsequent, and that’ll be whoever I battle subsequent.”