Outside Source
Topuria (17-1) won and defended the featherweight title once before moving up to lightweight. Topuria was a massive favorite when he put his lightweight title on the line against Justin Gaethje (28-5) at UFC Freedom 250 last month.
However, Gaethje battered Topuria and bloodied him up, forcing his corner to throw the towel after four rounds.
The Ilia Topuria lightweight debate
Pimblett (23-4) had originally been eyeing a title shot against Topuria. However, Gaethje defeated “The Baddy” to win the interim title earlier this month. Pimblett believes he would send Topuria back to featherweight if they were to fight now. The Liverpudlian notes that there are weight classes for a reason. Pimblett also believes it was Gaethje’s destiny to beat him and win the title against Topuria as an American at the White House.
“I always say we have weight classes for a reason,” Pimblett told Spinnin Backfist. “Ilia Topuria is a fat featherweight. He’s not a lightweight. And if I ever fight him, people will realize that. If he fights me, he will move back down to 145 [pounds]. Because he will realize how small he is for [lightweight]… I’ve got no animosity towards Justin Gaethje. He beat me; better man won on the night. I think it was fate for him to beat me, so that he could beat Ilia on the White House lawn. Be the American in the main event to win a world title. It was destiny.”
Pimblett will look to return to the win column when he faces Benoit St. Denis (17-3) at UFC 329 on July 11 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. St. Denis is currently on a four-fight finishing streak.
Paddy The Baddy tells us if he fought Ilia Topuria he would “send him back down to 145”
“I always say we have weight classes for a reason….He’s a fat featherweight, lad.”
He also notes that Justin Gaethje beating him in January “was destiny” to have an American win the belt… pic.twitter.com/KoYVeVJCQh
— Spinnin Backfist (@SpinninBackfist) July 2, 2026
This article first appeared at Recent News on Sherdog.com
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