Outside Source
As lightweight champion Topuria (17-0) is currently on a hiatus, Gaethje (27-5) and Pimblett fought for the interim lightweight title at UFC 324 last weekend in Las Vegas. Gaethje forced Pimblett to engage in a violent slugfest, where he beat up “The Baddy” to earn a unanimous decision victory.
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Masvidal believes Pimblett (23-4) would have had a bad night at the office against Topuria if he had beaten Gaethje. Masvidal believes Gaethje would also do better to just retire than fight Topuria in a title unifier. According to “Gamebred,” Topuria, is on a different level than Gaethje and Pimblett in every aspect of the sport. Masvidal is confident that Topuria starches Gaethje if they meet in a title unifier.
A Whole Other Planet
“It’s a good thing Paddy didn’t win, because if he did, he was going to get torched by Ilia,” Masvidal said on the “Death Row MMA” podcast. “I think Gaethje just retires and rides off into the sunset because he don’t want to see Ilia. I think both these guys are just levels below Ilia, and that fight really showed it all — on the wrestling, on the striking, on the defense, the offense. I think Ilia is on a whole other planet when it comes to these guys, and hopefully they give him Justin Gaethje so he can get another guy and do him like a launcher, and he’s gonna fold him.”
Gaethje’s last two losses have come against Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira, who have both been knocked out by Topuria.
“It’s a good thing Paddy didn’t win, because if he did, he was going to get torched by Ilia.” 👀🤯
Jorge Masvidal says Justin winning saved Paddy from a brutal matchup.
“Both these guys are just levels below Ilia, and that fight really showed it all – on the wrestling, on the… pic.twitter.com/yNoIOJnlx3
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) January 27, 2026
This article first appeared at Recent News on Sherdog.com
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