UFC News & FeaturesIlia Topuria Eager for Paddy Pimblett Fight: 'I’m Going to Enjoy Kicking His Ass'
If Ilia
Topuria gets his way, Paddy
Pimblett will be the opponent for his first lightweight title
defense.
After “El Matador” claimed the lightweight title with a first-round knockout of Charles Oliveira in the UFC 317 main event at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday night, Pimblett entered the Octagon for an impromptu faceoff with Topuria.
Topuria and Pimblett have animosity that dates back several years, so there is already plenty of heat behind the matchup. While Pimblett might not be the most deserving contender at 155 pounds, that history could allow “The Baddy” to skip the line among contenders.
"Yes, that's the fight that I want because with Charles it was a little bit of a difficult situation because I really like the guy. He’s a really great human being. You can't hate him. You always see him surrounded by his family and friends and teammates. He's an amazing human being, but in the end, I was like, 'This is competition. I have to do my job and that's it,’” Topuria said at Saturday’s post-fight press conference.
“But with Paddy, I'm really going to enjoy kicking his ass.”
While the encounter in the cage may have built some momentum for a future fight, UFC CEO Dana White was not happy that it was allowed to take place.
“I don’t know who the hell let him in there,” White said. “That should have never happened. Let’s start there. I was already back in my room or that would have never happened.”
White was non-commital regarding a future Topuria-Pimblett booking, but the newly-crowned champ believes it’s the move to make.
“Someone told me Dana was a little bit angry about that [faceoff],” Topuria said. “But [Dana] wasn’t there [to stop it]. So that [fight] has to happen.
Regardless of what the future might hold, Topuria says he’s willing to make his first title defense before year’s end.
"I could be ready by the need of the year if they want me," Topuria said. "If I get the call from the UFC, and they want me to get back in the Octagon by the end of the year, I'll be ready."
After “El Matador” claimed the lightweight title with a first-round knockout of Charles Oliveira in the UFC 317 main event at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday night, Pimblett entered the Octagon for an impromptu faceoff with Topuria.
Advertisement
Paddy Pimblett and Ilia Topuria faced off in the Octagon after Topuria's UFC lightweight title win at #UFC317 😳 pic.twitter.com/Immx3bc3SA
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) June 29, 2025
Topuria and Pimblett have animosity that dates back several years, so there is already plenty of heat behind the matchup. While Pimblett might not be the most deserving contender at 155 pounds, that history could allow “The Baddy” to skip the line among contenders.
For Topuria, the potential pairing would come with a different type
of motivation than what he had against Oliveira.
"Yes, that's the fight that I want because with Charles it was a little bit of a difficult situation because I really like the guy. He’s a really great human being. You can't hate him. You always see him surrounded by his family and friends and teammates. He's an amazing human being, but in the end, I was like, 'This is competition. I have to do my job and that's it,’” Topuria said at Saturday’s post-fight press conference.
“But with Paddy, I'm really going to enjoy kicking his ass.”
While the encounter in the cage may have built some momentum for a future fight, UFC CEO Dana White was not happy that it was allowed to take place.
“I don’t know who the hell let him in there,” White said. “That should have never happened. Let’s start there. I was already back in my room or that would have never happened.”
Topuria Willing to Return Before Year's End
White was non-commital regarding a future Topuria-Pimblett booking, but the newly-crowned champ believes it’s the move to make.
“Someone told me Dana was a little bit angry about that [faceoff],” Topuria said. “But [Dana] wasn’t there [to stop it]. So that [fight] has to happen.
Regardless of what the future might hold, Topuria says he’s willing to make his first title defense before year’s end.
"I could be ready by the need of the year if they want me," Topuria said. "If I get the call from the UFC, and they want me to get back in the Octagon by the end of the year, I'll be ready."
« Previous UFC 317 Winner Jhonata Diniz Recalls Skydiving Fight
Next Charles Oliveira Reacts to Championship Defeat at UFC 317 »
More
