Ilia Topuria has brutally dismissed any possibility of a future fight with long-time rival Paddy Pimblett, effectively ending years of speculation. The two fighters have been locked in a bitter feud since a confrontation at a fighter hotel in London in 2022.
Topuria's Move to Lightweight
After vacating the featherweight title last year to move up to lightweight, Topuria seemed destined to face Pimblett. The Liverpudlian even stormed the cage after Topuria won the 155lb strap against Charles Oliveira, setting the stage for a potential showdown. However, Topuria took time away from the cage for personal reasons, prompting the UFC to create an interim lightweight title.
Pimblett's Interim Title Fight
In January, the UFC booked Pimblett against Justin Gaethje for the interim belt. Pimblett needed only to win to set up a unification bout with Topuria, who had even expressed support for the idea. But Pimblett lost an epic back-and-forth battle with Gaethje, derailing those plans.
Following Gaethje's victory, he earned a title shot against Topuria. The two are set to headline a historic fight card at the White House on June 14. Topuria now has his sights set on bigger opportunities and sees no future with Pimblett.
Topuria's Harsh Assessment
"I was a little surprised by how bad Paddy really is," Topuria said on The Ariel Helwani Show. "I was expecting him to win. I was expecting him to take Justin down, to really fight. But what he did inside the Octagon surprised me. He really proved that he's a little sausage."
When asked if Pimblett can come back stronger, Topuria replied: "Of course, but how is he going to gain the skills, the technique? That's basically impossible. He needs to die and be born again. No, I don't think we'll ever fight at this point. He's too far; we don't see Paddy on the horizon. We don't see him anymore. Bye Paddy. I didn't even have to go inside the Octagon to beat him, so that feels a little bit better."
Pimblett's Return Plans
Despite the setback, Pimblett is back in the gym and plotting a return. He confirmed he will fight in July, potentially on the same card as Conor McGregor. "I'm just starting my camp," Pimblett said on The Wayne Rooney Show. "I'm going to be fighting in 12 weeks or something. July 11 it's going to be. The World Cup is on, but I'll go out 11 or 12 days before."
