Paddy Pimblett Vows to Give ‘Headshot’ Treatment to Ilia Topuria As Grudge Match Gets Closer

Top UFC star Paddy Pimblett promises to destroy hated rival Ilia Topuria in a potential lightweight title fight soon.

Paddy Pimblett Vows to Give ‘Headshot’ Treatment to Ilia Topuria As Grudge Match Gets Closer

Paddy Pimblett believes he would destroy Ilia Topuria in a fight (via X/Imago)

Despite Islam Makhachev vacating the title, the UFC lightweight division remains electrified with fierce contenders and thrilling rivalries brewing with intensity. One of the most captivating feuds is between Paddy Pimblett and Ilia Topuria, fueled by past insults and rising career trajectories. The Georgian-Spanish star is gearing up for a vacant title shot and Pimblett has openly declared he wants to settle the score.  

Topuria will be taking on former UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 in a highly anticipated main event showdown. Going into the fight, Topuria is the betting favorite and is expected to win his second UFC title, potentially. Pimblett believes if this happens, he will get the title shot and has already started the mental warfare via Instagram. 

Can’t wait to land one of these on el chorizo

The photo he posted as a reference is from his last UFC bout against former Bellator champion Michael Chandler. It was an incredible fight where Pimblett dominated the veteran fighter, and ultimately secured a TKO victory in the third round. Following this impressive performance, many fans and experts began taking the Liverpool native more seriously as a legitimate lightweight contender.

The rivalry between Pimblett and Topuria began backstage at UFC London 2022, sparked by past comments and a heated confrontation. Since then, tensions have consistently escalated online and through the media, with both fighters trading insults and threats of future violent resolution.

After his lightweight debut, the former featherweight king expressed his intentions to fight Pimblett and knock him out cold. On the other hand, Pimblett has discredited Topuria’s rise, claiming the UFC spoon-fed him the easiest and most vulnerable opponents available.

‘The Baddy’ also criticized Topuria’s situation with Makhachev, suggesting the pound-for-pound king should’ve defeated him before moving to another division. Pimblett rejects the narrative that Makhachev feared Topuria and instead believed he simply had bigger ambitions in the welterweight division.

Is Ilia Topuria feared by top fighters?

With only eight bouts in the promotion, Ilia Topuria’s rise in the UFC has been rapid and extremely dominant. His scary knockout power has overwhelmed seasoned opponents, making him one of the most dangerous and unpredictable forces on the roster. Topuria poses a serious threat to top lightweights with his speed, timing, and ability to end fights suddenly.

Ilia Topuria's incredible dominance
Ilia Topuria’s incredible dominance (via X)

Due to his reputation, fans wanted to see him face Islam Makhachev, an indestructible force within the current UFC lightweight roster. However, as Makhachev moved up, it didn’t sit well with fans or Topuria, who accused him of avoiding their superfight. UFC Hall of Famer Chael Sonnen discussed the situation online and publicly supported the claims made by the Georgian-Spanish fighter.

Islam did everything you could do to avoid that fight… That’s just what happened… Islam did everything you could conceivably do to not fight Ilia, including leave the division, including leave the championship. ‘Hey, if you don’t fight this guy, we’re going to strip you of your championship’, ‘Strip me of my championship. There is nothing in our industry that is a stronger way to get away from somebody than to leave the division.

Chael Sonnen via Instagram 

For Makhachev, however, capturing a second belt held greater significance than facing another former featherweight like Topuria. The dominant Dagestani reminded Topuria of his achievements and reign in the lightweight division, subtly hinting at a potential future clash.

In a recent interview, Topuria stated he won’t grant Makhachev an immediate title shot after winning the belt at UFC 317. Nevertheless, the superfight will only happen if both of them succeeds in their upcoming bouts. There is also a chance that Makhachev could retire after winning the welterweight belt as he has talked about retirement in recent times.

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