Latest news with #PaddyPimblett
The Independent
a day ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Paddy Pimblett provides update on Ilia Topuria fight amid UFC lightweight disarray
Paddy Pimblett has provided an update on the UFC lightweight title picture, although not necessarily a positive one as far as he is concerned. The Liverpudlian has been linked to a potential shot at champion Ilia Topuria, with whom he has had a grudge since 2022, when they were involved in an altercation in London. However, Arman Tsarukyan and Justin Gaethje are both ranked ahead of Pimblett, who is No 9 at 155lb. While Pimblett's ranking could count against him, No 2 Tsarukyan lost momentum when he withdrew from a title shot on one day's notice in January, citing injury, and No 5 Gaethje is only riding a one-fight win streak and previously lost two title fights. 'Obviously back in the gym Monday,' Pimblett said on his YouTube channel. 'All I kept getting asked this weekend was: 'Who are you fighting? When are you fighting? When are you fighting Ilia?' 'I have no idea. Hopefully it is gonna be me versus the chorizo next,' added 'Paddy The Baddy', referencing Topuria's Spanish-Georgian heritage, 'and I think that's what all the Americans want, because every American I bump into keeps saying: 'When are you gonna smash that sausage's head in?' 'I'm hoping that gets sorted, but I understand that I am ranked No 9 or something, so other people probably are more deserving. But posh boy definitely isn't; little rich boy Arman, showing how desperate he is, offering another £1m to fight [Topuria]. Spoilt, rich baby, trying to pay their way out of things.' In fact, Tsarukyan recently offered Topuria a $500,000 bet around a potential clash. 'That's why he quit when he was making weight in the bath like a little b***h,' Pimblett added, in a jibe at Tsarukyan's injury from January. 'Arman's irrelevant, no one cares about him.' Tsarukyan appears to be the front runner to challenge Topuria, who won the vacant title with a first-round knockout of Charles Oliveira in June, which could lead Pimblett to face Gaethje. However, Gaethje has played down the possibility of that match-up, suggesting he could leave the UFC if he is not awarded another title shot. 'As I always say, I've got nothing but respect for Justin,' said Pimblett, 30, 'but I keep seeing in interviews him saying he doesn't want to fight me. 'I['d] seen Dan Hooker talking s*** the other day as well. I used to like Dan Hooker, now you can eat s***. I think the only fight to make is me and Ilia.' Tsarukyan's injury in January led then-champion Islam Makhachev to fight Renato Moicano on short notice. Makhachev submitted Moicano before giving up the title in May, with an eye on challenging for the welterweight belt later this year. who was this week paired with Rafael Fiziev for an October fight. Pimblett had been loosely linked to Oliveira, but the Brazilian's match-up with Fiziev means Paddy The Baddy will likely take on Topuria, Gaethje or Tsarukyan, depending on who is paired in a title fight. After Topuria knocked out Oliveira in June, Pimblett entered the cage to face off with the champion, while Gaethje and Tsarukyan sat in the crowd at the T-Mobile Arena. However, UFC president Dana White said he did not know who authorised Pimblett to enter the Octagon in Las Vegas.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Charles Oliveira's next opponent revealed as Rafael Fiziev in unexpected pairing at UFC Rio
Charles Oliveira will face Rafael Fiziev in the main event of UFC Rio on 11 October, in an intriguing, unexpected match-up. The fight marks Oliveira's first contest in his native Brazil since 2020, and will see the former lightweight champion aim to bounce back from his brutal knockout by Ilia Topuria. Oliveira, who held the lightweight title from May 2021 until May 2022, has twice failed to regain the gold since losing it due to a failed weigh-in the day before he submitted Justin Gaethje. The 35-year-old was submitted by Islam Makhachev in October 2022 and finished by Topuria in round one this June, with the vacant belt on the line both times. Now ranked fourth at lightweight, he aims to get back to winning ways as he takes on Fiziev, who is seeded 10th and is seeking a second straight win. The Kazakh, 32, outpointed Ignacio Bahamondes in June to snap a three-fight losing streak, having lost two close fights with Gaethje in that skid – as well as suffering an injury against Mateusz Gamrot. Oliveira, meanwhile, was riding an 11-fight win streak across four years before he ran into the dominant Makhachev. He then knocked out Beneil Dariush, lost to Arman Tsarukyan via decision, and outpointed Michael Chandler before facing Topuria. It was expected that Oliveira might fight Paddy Pimblett next. However, the Liverpudlian has also been linked to Topuria's first title defence at lightweight, after the latter gave up the featherweight belt in February to move up to 155lb. Pimblett has also been linked to a bout with Gaethje, though the American has claimed he will not fight again unless it is a third shot at the undisputed lightweight belt. Gaethje, 36, previously held the interim title, but he was submitted by Khabib Nurmagomedov while trying to unify the belts in 2020, before Oliveira submitted him in 2022. On the latter occasion, Oliveira was ineligible to win the gold due to his failed weigh-in, but Gaethje was eligible. Tsarukyan is another possible challenger for Topuria, if the UFC indeed pairs Gaethje and Pimblett, however. The Armenian-Russian was due to challenge Makhachev for the title in January but withdrew due to injury on one day's notice. Makhachev submitted his replacement opponent, Renato Moicano, before vacating the strap in May to move up to welterweight.
USA Today
01-08-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Dan Hooker: UFC booking Ilia Topuria vs. Paddy Pimblett would be an 'absolute piss take'
Dan Hooker thinks Paddy Pimblett getting the next UFC title shot would be ridiculous – but not surprising. UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria (17-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) ruled out Arman Tsarukyan from the title conversation, and thinks he'll be offered either Pimblett (22-4 MMA, 7-0 UFC) or Justin Gaethje for his first title defense. When Topuria knocked out Charles Oliveira to claim the vacant 155-pound title at UFC 317, it was Pimblett who got to face off with him in the octagon, even though Gaethje and Tsarukyan (22-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) were also in attendance. That's why Hooker wouldn't be surprised if Pimblett wound up getting the title shot. "The funny thing is, they might actually do Paddy, which is an absolute piss take where he fights (Michael) Chandler and then gets a title shot – is like an absolute piss take," Hooker told Sky Sports New Zealand. "But who cares, at the end of the day? He's not going to hold the belt for very long. If you were in Ilia's shoes, logically, he should be fighting Arman (Tsarukyan). But he's not going to because Arman's a really tough fight. "If I'm sitting there with the title, and I'm getting pay-per-view points and I have to fight Arman Tsarukyan, Justin Gaethje or Paddy Pimblett, I would take the hardest guy. But if you're smart, you take Paddy Pimblett. You're going to get the most money because there's a lot of animosity. You're going to get the most money and the worst fighter, so it's a win-win situation for Ilia Topuria." As for Hooker (24-12 MMA, 14-8 UFC), he's willing to take on Tsarukyan next – a fight he believes most of the top contenders don't want any part of.
The Independent
23-07-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Rumoured Paddy Pimblett opponent Justin Gaethje provides major update on UFC title picture
UFC lightweight Justin Gaethje has emphatically ruled himself out of a No 1 contender's fight with Paddy Pimblett, again threatening to leave the promotion. After Pimblett dominated Michael Chandler en route to a stoppage win in April, many fans were finally forced to accept the Liverpudlian as a top contender at 155lb. Then, in June, the Briton's old rival Ilia Topuria knocked out Charles Oliveira in rapid fashion to win the lightweight title. Those factors could combine to set up a grudge match between Pimblett and Topuria for the belt, although the consensus is that a bout between 'Paddy The Baddy' and Gaethje also makes sense. However, Gaethje has now doubled down on a previous claim that he will not fight anyone other than the champion next, and that he could leave the UFC if he is not given a title shot. When asked if he would face Pimblett next, the American told ESPN on Tuesday (22 July): 'Absolutely not. If that's the route that they want me to take, then I don't believe that they need me anymore. You know what I mean? 'I know that sounds petty or whatever, but I'm No 3. I'm 3-1 in my last four, the champion was calling to fight me, they vacated. They bring a new guy in, and they give a guy that's 2-2 the fight.' Gaethje, 36, was referring to Islam Makhachev's desire to fight him, before the Russian gave up the belt with an eye on a welterweight title shot. Topuria then stopped Oliveira (2-2 in his previous four bouts) to win the vacant strap. 'So if their algorithm and their math tells them just to use me until I get beat,' Gaethje continued, 'then I'm going to have to really reevaluate what I'm doing here, because I signed up for a merit-based system. 'I have lived by that, and if they want to give Arman [Tsarukyan] the fight, which... Arman s*** the bed, had the fight; I had the fight, but I took another fight for them. He had the fight, but pulled out because his back hurt. Those are two different scenarios [...] I'm going to be upset about that.' Gaethje was referring to the possibility that Tsarukyan could be next for Topuria, despite the Armenian-Russian pulling out of a title shot against Makhachev in January. One day before that scheduled fight, Tsarukyan withdrew while citing a back injury. Meanwhile, Gaethje fought and beat Rafael Fiziev – for the second time – in March, despite Makhachev's wish to face him. Although Tsarukyan has a claim to a title shot, it was Pimblett who was brought into the cage to face off with Topuria after the latter won the lightweight gold. 'I knew that it was a mistake, I knew that it wasn't the UFC's doing,' Gaethje said. 'I knew it was kind of just what was happening because of the environment with Joe [Rogan, UFC commentator] calling him in. 'I was obviously upset. My nephew was there with me, I walked out with both of my fingers in the air. At first, while [Topuria] was doing his interview, they were trying to put me and Arman in camera frame together – because I was trying to exit, he was right behind me, and they were filming him. 'And I kept moving to get out of the way so they could film him, and they kept readjusting and putting me in frame. I was like, 'What are you doing?' [A camera operator was] pointing at both of us two, saying he was trying to get us in a frame together. So, as Paddy and [Topuria] are in there, they're trying to put me and Arman in a frame. 'And I was like: 'F*** you, get that f*****g camera away from me. You f*****g wish that you were going to do this right now. Go f*** yourself.'' Despite the pressure that Gaethje is putting on the UFC to give him a title fight, with the potential that the former interim champion leaves the promotion amid this episode, he has refused to retire from MMA. 'I don't even want to entertain that conversation,' Gaethje said, 'because like I said: I have all the desire to compete. If I felt that in any way, then I would be done here. 'I just want to – obviously, from a biased perspective – be recognised as the most consistent and one of the top guys in the world. I did what I did. How many more fights do I have to... If I fight fights where if they win they get a championship, and then I win and it's still, 'I'm maybe going to have to fight someone else,' this is not the situation that I wanted to get myself in. 'And this is the situation I'm going to keep myself from. And that's where we're at.'
Scottish Sun
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Dana White and UFC beg Ilia Topuria to make next fight promise as Paddy Pimblett grudge match looms for new superstar
The new fan favourite's grand and historic plans are temporarily on hold TOP DOG Dana White and UFC beg Ilia Topuria to make next fight promise as Paddy Pimblett grudge match looms for new superstar Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ILIA TOPURIA has revealed the UFC brass asked him to make a "promise" about his next fight in the aftermath of his coronation as the new king of the sport. 'El Matador' became the face of mixed martial arts premier promotion late last month with a stunning first-round knockout of fan favourite Charles Oliveira in the main event of UFC 317. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Ilia Topuria knocked out Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 to claim the vacant lightweight title Credit: REUTERS 4 The Georgian-born Spaniard became the tenth two-weight champion in UFC history Credit: SHUTTERSTOCK 4 Topuria has ambitions of becoming the first three-weight champion in UFC history Credit: SHUTTERSTOCK His blistering beatdown of 'Do Bronx' saw him claim the vacant lightweight title and become the tenth two-division champion in UFC history. The Georgian-born Spaniard has ambitions of becoming the UFC's first THREE-WEIGHT champion, although the promotion aren't keen on him making history just yet. During an appearance on the About Last Fight Podcast, the 28-year-old admitted: 'I thought about [moving up]. 'But the last conversation I had with the UFC [and] they personally asked me the favour. "Like, 'Don't tell us after the fight that you want to move to the welterweight division. Make us a promise.' "I was like 'promise.' I was [crossing my fingers]. I promise.' Topuria has plenty of work left at lightweight before he can contemplate moving up another division. A grudge match with Brit Paddy Pimblett is in the offing after the pair's near melee in the cage late last month. JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS 4 Ilia Topuria is hoping a grudge match with Brit Paddy Pimblett will be his next fight Credit: GETTY UFC supremo Dana White may not be keen on booking the barnburner, but Topuria is hellbent on settling his five-year-long feud with 'The Baddy'. He said: "Yes, that's the fight I want. UFC 317- Ilia Topuria SHOVES Paddy Pimblett in heated row after brutal first-round KO of Charles Oliveira to win LW belt "With Charles, I had a bit of a difficult situation because I really like the guy. "He's a really great human being, you can't hate him. But with Paddy, I'm really going to enjoy kicking his a**." He later added: "That's the guy that I will really enjoy to punch him in the face. "Really, really will enjoy that fight. I know I can do with him whatever I to do. "Tell me, kid, what you want me to do with you. I'm going to do whatever I want to do. I don't want to use my words.'
