Ilia Topuria is two weeks away from his UFC 317 clash with Charles Oliveira that could end with him becoming a two-division champion.
But there’s another opponent that will always be in his sights.
During an interview with ESPN Deportes, Topuria was asked about who he could fight in the future should be claim the vacant lightweight title on June 28, and he didn’t mince words when Paddy Pimblett’s name came up.
“He’s a hypocrite,” Topuria said (Spanish translation via Championship Rounds). “I’ll tell you, I remember we shared a press conference once and he said something like, ‘I’m fighting on the main card and you’re on the prelims,’ some kind of nonsense. And now I’m thinking, I have two [featherweight] belts, who are you? Who the f*ck is Paddy Pimblett right now? And why would he deserve to fight me right now?
“Honestly, if I could choose a fight, I would fight him because I hate him. He’s a pain in the ass.”
Ilia Topuria would gladly choose Paddy Pimblett for next fight: ‘I hate him’
Ilia Topuria knows there will be a reckoning someday with longtime rival Paddy Pimblett.
