Paddy Pimblett has hit again at claims that he’s “not deserving” of a UFC light-weight title combat in opposition to bitter rival Ilia Topuria.
The Spaniard welcomed a combat in opposition to Pimblett as that they had a heated face to face after Topuria claimed the vacant belt at UFC 317 with a first-round knockout of Charles Oliveira earlier this month.
Pimblett propelled himself into title rivalry with a third-round stoppage of Michael Chandler in April.
“It annoys me when people say I’m not deserving when Islam [Makhachev] got a title after beating Bobby Green, and I beat him faster,” he mentioned.
“[Charles] Oliveira simply bought one other title shot off beating [Michael] Chandler who he went to determination with and practically bought completed with, once I beat Chandler up for 3 rounds and beat him like nobody has earlier than.
Michael Chandler, left, and Paddy Pimblett battle throughout a combined martial arts combat at UFC 314, Sunday, April 13, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photograph/Lynne Sladky)
“Individuals simply have a unique opinion when it is me, whereas these others fighters it is alright, they provide them a title shot.
“Persons are saying [Justin] Gaethje when Gaethje has simply crushed rank 11 or 12 and coming again off the knock out of the 12 months in opposition to [Max] Holloway in a combat he misplaced.
“You can probably make arguments for several people but the fact that me and Ilia have got history I think, apart from Ilia and Islam who are pound for pound number one and two, me versus Ilia is the biggest fight the UFC can make.”
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
New UFC light-weight champion Ilia Topuria reveals why he needs to combat Paddy Pimblett subsequent.
The pair’s heated feud stems again to 2022 when Pimblett made feedback on-line, resulting in a bodily altercation on the fighter resort in London throughout the UFC Struggle Evening 204 in March that 12 months.
‘Should you’re prepared, I am right here’ – what occurred at UFC 317?
After Topuria had scored a surprising first-round knockout victory over Oliveira to say the UFC light-weight title at UFC 317 final month, Pimblett was summoned to the ring from watching on within the viewers, the place a heated trade led to Topuria shoving the eighth-ranked contender and igniting a rivalry from years in the past.
“Let’s fight! If you’re ready, I’m here,” Topuria mentioned to Pimblett earlier than he entered the ring.
Paddy Pimblett reacts after defeating Michael Chandler throughout a combined martial arts combat at UFC 314 in April
Former featherweight champ Topuria had introduced in February that he was going to step as much as the 155-pound division to combat for the belt vacated by former champ Makhachev’s transfer as much as the welterweight division.
Oliveira, who was stripped of the light-weight belt in Might 2022 when he missed the burden for a defence in opposition to Justin Gaethje, appeared good throughout a short trade on the mat, however Topuria disengaged to deliver the combat again to the ft, and shortly afterwards Oliveira’s night ended.
The 28-year-old surprised Oliveira with a proper hook and adopted it up with a crunching left that despatched Oliveira crashing to the mat, his eyes glazed as his again hit the canvas as Topuria fulfilled his pre-fight prediction of a first-round knockout win.
“I already said it – I represent the new generation of the mix of martial arts, this is the next level of the game. This is the next thing, and this is what I represent,” Topuria mentioned in a post-fight interview. “I did exactly what we had planned, lot of jabs, right hand, left hook, and boom – his lights were out.”
