Paddy Pimblett Cannot Evolve Due to Limited Skill Set, Claims Ilia Topuria

UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria reveals why it will not be easy for Paddy Pimblett to fight if he continues his same style.

Paddy Pimblett Cannot Evolve Due to Limited Skill Set, Claims Ilia Topuria

Ilia Topuria calls out Paddy Pimblett (via Sports Illustrated)

In Short
  • Ilia Topuria doubts Paddy Pimblett can reach elite skill levels after his loss at UFC 324.
  • The rivalry between Topuria and Pimblett escalated from a 2022 hotel altercation to ongoing public tensions.
  • Paddy Pimblett plans to return at UFC 329, while Topuria focuses on defending his title against Justin Gaethje.

Ever since Ilia Topuria moved up to lightweight, a fight with Paddy Pimblett was on the cards. This was majorly due to Pimblett’s star power and their shared rivalry from past confrontations. However, that matchup now looks unlikely after Pimblett’s loss at UFC 324, which halted his climb in the division. Topuria has since weighed in on what the Liverpudlian must do to get back into title contention.

Their rivalry began in 2022 during UFC London when Topuria and Pimblett clashed in a hotel lobby altercation involving punches and a thrown hand sanitizer bottle after the English fighter made comments seen as disrespectful toward Georgia. The situation escalated tensions between them and carried into UFC 282 fight week where both were on the same card and again nearly came to blows at the press conference.

Even after Topuria won the lightweight title against Charles Oliveira at UFC 317, Pimblett entered the cage afterward and was shoved during the face-off with ‘El Matador’, adding to their ongoing rivalry. However, Pimblett’s interim title fight loss to Justin Gaethje at UFC 324 reduced the chances of that matchup happening, leading into Topuria’s recent comments on his path back to title contention.

I was a little surprised at how bad Paddy really is. I was expecting him to win, to be honest. He really proved that he’s a little sausage. Of course he can rebound from a loss, but how is he going to gain the skills and technique in this sport? That’s basically impossible. He needs… to be born again.

Ilia Topuria via The Ariel Helwani Show

Pimblett had previously been vocal about his dislike toward Topuria, openly framing their rivalry in interviews and promotional build-ups. He had also predicted that he would win the interim title and force Topuria to wait for a unification bout. Additionally, Pimblett has on multiple occasions claimed that a key reason for Topuria’s popularity stems from their rivalry and the attention it generates between them.

In the lead-up to UFC 324, some observers believed the UFC was positioning Pimblett for a future fight with the Georgian-Spanish champion, as his ranking rise appeared rapid despite limited recent activity. His climb seemed to bypass more active contenders, raising questions within the lightweight division. This perception that gained traction as Dan Hooker also pointed to the unusual shift in rankings.

Since his loss to Gaethje in January 2026, Paddy Pimblett has remained silent regarding his standing in the division and the fallout from that defeat. However, he has recently confirmed plans to return at UFC 329, scheduled for July during International Fight Week. Meanwhile, Ilia Topuria remains focused on his own upcoming challenge against Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250, as the fight will mark his first title defense.

Ilia Topuria reveals why he does not want to challenge boxing legend anymore

Terence Crawford’s legacy as the first male three-weight undisputed champion of the four-belt era was cemented after his dominant win over Canelo Alvarez in September 2025, further solidifying his place among boxing’s all-time greats. However, the Nebraska native retired shortly after, following his being stripped by the WBC of his middleweight belt, marking a controversial end to his championship status.

Ilia Topuria and Terence Crawford's beef intensifies
Ilia Topuria and Terence Crawford’s beef intensifies (via X)

However, before fighting Alvarez, Crawford was called out by Ilia Topuria, creating brief cross-discipline attention between boxing and MMA. Crawford responded by criticizing Topuria’s drinking habits and lack of discipline in his training. Despite the exchange, the rivalry never developed into anything concrete. Topuria recently addressed the situation, explaining why he no longer intends to challenge ‘Bud’.

Congrats to him for an amazing career he had. I have learned many things from his style, so I don’t even want to challenge him. I wish him all the best and his family.

Ilia Topuria via The Ariel Helwani Show

After his retirement, Terence Crawford has focused on family life and has become a consistent presence in his children’s upbringing. He was recently seen celebrating enthusiastically as his son won a wrestling championship, highlighting his active role outside the ring. As Crawford settles into retirement, Ilia Topuria’s decision to step away from any potential challenge reflects a shift in focus for both athletes.

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