The landscape of the UFC's lightweight division has become increasingly complex, with a surprising potential matchup now revealed by commentator Daniel Cormier.
Cormier's Bombshell Revelation
According to former UFC champion Daniel Cormier, the promotion actively sought to book a fight between British star Paddy 'The Baddy' Pimblett and former interim champion Justin Gaethje. Cormier, a respected voice in the sport, made this claim on his YouTube channel, stating unequivocally, "I know for a fact that they wanted to do Paddy versus Justin."
This revelation adds a new layer to the already convoluted title picture at 155 pounds. Cormier suggested that a victory for Pimblett over a highly-ranked contender like Gaethje would have legitimised a title shot for the Liverpudlian. "A win over Justin after what [Pimblett has] done already, now I would've bought Paddy fighting for the belt right now," Cormier admitted.
The Crowded Lightweight Title Scene
The path to the lightweight champion, Ilia Topuria, is currently crowded with contenders. The situation solidified further on Saturday, when Arman Tsarukyan defeated Dan Hooker in Qatar, cementing his status as the number one contender.
However, both Pimblett, ranked fifth, and Gaethje, ranked fourth, have publicly staked their claims. Gaethje has even threatened retirement if he is bypassed for a title opportunity. Meanwhile, Pimblett and Topuria share a bitter grudge that dates back to 2022, when a confrontation at a UFC London hotel saw Pimblett throw a bottle of hand sanitiser at the champion.
The feud was reignited just last week in Qatar, where Topuria was present to coach his brother and Pimblett was supporting his teammates. During this latest run-in, Topuria labelled his rival a "p***y".
Who Will Face Topuria?
Despite the history with Pimblett and the threat from Gaethje, Cormier believes the most logical fight is between Topuria and Tsarukyan. He pointed to their escalating personal feud, which this week involved a dispute over a video Topuria posted. "Ilia said he slapped him the other day, Arman says he touched his face," Cormier noted, highlighting the easy promotional build-up for a "very competitive" fight.
Cormier did acknowledge Pimblett's impressive growth, particularly after his dominant victory over former Bellator champion Michael Chandler in April. "He's righted the ship, and now he's fought so well that we go: 'Man, the way he beat Chandler, we've never seen that before,'" said Cormier. Yet, he cautioned that Topuria represents a "different beast."
As it stands, the UFC's lightweight division remains one of its most compelling and unpredictable weight classes, with several elite fighters vying for a chance at the gold held by Ilia Topuria.
