‘Weight Bully’ Paddy Pimblett Gets Surprising Challenge Despite Chasing Ilia Topuria Superfight

UFC veteran Colby Covington wants to come back and eyes a potential fight with top lightweight Paddy Pimblett.

‘Weight Bully’ Paddy Pimblett Gets Surprising Challenge Despite Chasing Ilia Topuria Superfight

Colby Covington believes he could fight Paddy Pimblett (via Imago)

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Top 10 lightweight contender Paddy Pimblett was present at UFC 317 when Ilia Topuria brutally knocked out Charles Oliveira for the vacant title. The Scouser then walked into the octagon and engaged in an intense face-off with the newly crowned featherweight champion. Fans went wild after the moment and this declared Pimblett as the best candidate to fight Topuria next.

Pimblett is undefeated in the UFC and recently TKOed Michael Chandler, making himself a serious contender for the lightweight title. His dominant rise has attracted attention, with many top fighters now eager to share the octagon with the surging UK native. Among them is Colby Covington, who discussed a possible return and fighting Pimblett during an interview with Matan Even.

I’m not done with the UFC. I still have some unfinished business…I think the Paddy Pimblett fight is interesting. He’s got a little bit of a name right now, but only because he’s got an English accent and a bowl cut. He’s actually bigger than me. He’s a weight bully. He cuts a lot of weight.

Colby Covington via Matan Even YT Channel

Pimblett is infamous for gaining significant weight between fights, often ballooning up to nearly 200 pounds after his fights. This dramatic weight gain forces him to undergo extreme weight cuts before fights, raising concerns about his long-term health and performance. Despite criticism, the UK native continues this pattern, claiming he enjoys life outside the cage and can still make weight successfully.

Covington is known for not cutting much weight and usually competes close to his natural walk-around weight during fights. Because of this, many fans consider him undersized for welterweight, though he has still fought for the title twice. He criticizes excessive weight cutting and has publicly called out big names like Khabib Nurmagomedov and Dustin Poirier for doing so.

However, Covington is currently at an all-time low, having lost two consecutive fights. This has made some of the fans call him ‘washed.’ His last bout ended in devastating fashion with a loss to Joaquin Buckley, leaving him desperate for a strong comeback performance. Fighting Pimblett could revive his momentum, but the UK native is fully focused on capturing the UFC lightweight championship gold.

Paddy Pimblett vs. Justin Gaethje at UFC 319 makes sense, but it is not an option for now

Before UFC 317, Paddy Pimblett had confidently predicted he could get a title shot if Ilia Topuria defeated Charles Oliveira. Following his intense face-off with Topuria, the UK native has remained busy promoting their highly anticipated and potential championship bout. The Scouser even went on to compare their growing bad blood with the legendary rivalry between Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Paddy Pimblett is not fighting in the August PPV card
Paddy Pimblett is not fighting in the August PPV card (via X)

However, UFC CEO Dana White was clearly unhappy with Pimblett entering the octagon and facing off against Ilia Topuria. This sparked speculation that the UFC might have different plans in mind for the rising UK star’s next potential fight. Rumors linked Pimblett to a bout with Justin Gaethje on the August card, but he has now publicly shut down those claims.

The fight card features an important middleweight title fight between Dricus Du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev for UFC’s return to Chicago. Apart from the main event, there is a lack of star power that is evident. Pimblett vs. Gaethje would definitely put the fight card as one of the most anticipated ones of the year. However, that is likely not possible at the moment.

Gaethje had earlier threatened to retire from MMA if the UFC didn’t grant him a lightweight title shot next. However, White disapproved of this negotiation tactic and clarified that the veteran was currently not next in line. Meanwhile, top lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan has continued his heated online rivalry with the reigning lightweight champion.

Many believe Tsarukyan has the best chance to defeat Topuria due to his elite wrestling background and grappling skills. Topuria, however, sees Pimblett as the easiest opponent in the lightweight division and vowed to submit him inside the octagon. Despite that, fans are extremely excited about this matchup and expect the UFC to capitalize on the rivalry for a big pay-per-view.

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