Paddy Pimblett has hit back at claims that he is “not deserving” of a UFC lightweight title fight against bitter rival Ilia Topuria.
The Spaniard welcomed a fight against Pimblett as they had a heated head to head 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 contention 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 said.
“[Charles] Oliveira just got another title shot off beating [Michael] Chandler who he went to decision with and nearly got finished with, when I beat Chandler up for three rounds and beat him like no one has before.
Michael Chandler, left, and Paddy Pimblett battle during a mixed martial arts fight at UFC 314, Sunday, April 13, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
“People just have a different opinion when it’s me, whereas these others fighters it’s alright, they give them a title shot.
“People are saying [Justin] Gaethje when Gaethje has just beaten rank 11 or 12 and coming back off the knock out of the year against [Max] Holloway in a fight he lost.
“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.”
New UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria reveals why he wants to fight Paddy Pimblett next.
The pair’s heated feud stems back to 2022 when Pimblett made comments online, leading to a physical altercation at the fighter hotel in London during the UFC Fight Night 204 in March that year.
‘If you’re ready, I’m here’ – what happened at UFC 317?
After Topuria had scored a stunning first-round knockout victory over Oliveira to claim the UFC lightweight title at UFC 317 last month, Pimblett was summoned to the ring from watching on in the audience, where a heated exchange led to Topuria shoving the eighth-ranked contender and igniting a rivalry from years ago.
“Let’s fight! If you’re ready, I’m here,” Topuria said to Pimblett before he entered the ring.
Paddy Pimblett reacts after defeating Michael Chandler during a mixed martial arts fight at UFC 314 in April
Former featherweight champ Topuria had announced in February that he was going to step up to the 155-pound division to fight for the belt vacated by former champ Makhachev’s move up to the welterweight division.
Oliveira, who was stripped of the lightweight belt in May 2022 when he missed the weight for a defence against Justin Gaethje, looked good during a brief exchange on the mat, but Topuria disengaged to bring the fight back to the feet, and shortly afterwards Oliveira’s evening ended.
The 28-year-old stunned Oliveira with a right hook and followed it up with a crunching left that sent Oliveira crashing to the mat, his eyes glazed as his back 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 said 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.”
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Mahomes, dos Chiefs, revela que recebeu conselhos de Tom Brady: “Ele não tem obrigação de fazer isso”
Tom Brady e Patrick Mahomes em duelo na NFL. Foto: Mike Ehrmann/Getty ImagesTom Brady, considerado o “Goat” da NFL, e Patrick Mahomes, apelidado de “Baby Goat”, tiveram conversas particulares recentemente. O quarterback do Kansas City Chiefs exaltou o perfil de liderança do ex-jogador do New England Patriots e revelou que recebeu conselhos valiosos do eterno camisa 12. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE“Conversei muito com o Tom. É incrível que ele tire um tempo para me aconselhar”, enalteceu Mahomes, em entrevista ao programa “Up & Adams”. O camisa 15 do time de Kansas é frequentemente comparado a Brady por conta do seu talento e feitos impressionantes em sete anos como titular na NFL, mas isso não é motivo para criar qualquer clima de rivalidade entre os dois ícones do futebol americano.“Ele não tem obrigação nenhuma de fazer isso. É realmente um cara do bem, […]
Deandre Ayton excited to play with ‘super-ripped’ Luka Dončić on Lakers: ‘This feels like a video game’
DeAndre Ayton has his fresh start and the Los Angeles Lakers have their new featured big man.The former No. 1 overall pick was introduced in Los Angeles on Tuesday after signing a two-year, $16.6 million deal in free agency following his buy-out with the Portland Trail Blazers. Judging from what he had to say, he's a bit more excited about what he can do with the Lakers.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementSpecifically, he can't wait to play with Luka Dončić. From ESPN:"This feels like a video game, like somebody set it up," Ayton, decked out in an all-black suit, said at his introductory news conference. "This is an opportunity that I won't take for granted. Luka is a once-in-a-generation player, and I'm happy to be his teammate. Hearing about the kind of shape he's been in, he's super ripped, and I'm finally glad to be […]
Jacob Misiorowski strikes out 12 Dodgers in Brewers win, outduels Clayton Kershaw despite leadoff HR from Shohei Ohtani
Jacob Misiorowski faced perhaps the stiffest test yet of his sensational rookie campaign on Tuesday against the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.He passed, with honors.Misiorowski allowed a leadoff home run to Shohei Ohtani on the third pitch of the game. From there, he struck out 12 and didn't allow another run to power the Brewers to a 3-1 win over the Dodgers.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIt added up to another sensational outing from the hard-throwing right-hander, who outdueled Dodgers legend Clayton Kershaw to pick up the win.Los Angeles hitters posted a season-high 15 strikeouts for the game as the Dodgers lost their fifth straight and their second straight to the Brewers. They remain in control of the NL West with a 56-37 record. The Brewers improved to 52-40 to move within three games of the first-place Chicago Cubs in the NL Central.Misiorowski fired […]
Lenda do jiu-jitsu, Marcus ‘Buchecha’ Almeida assina com o UFC e já tem estreia marcada
O brasileiro 13 vezes campeão mundial de jiu-jitsu, Marcus "Buchecha" Almeida, de 35 anos, anunciou nesta terça-feira ter assinado com a organização de MMA, UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship). Almeida luta na categoria peso-pesado (-120kg) e já tem data e adversário marcados para a estreia. Ainda neste mês, no dia 26, a lenda do grapppling — esportes de combate com imobilizações — testará suas forças contra o eslovaco Martin Buday, em Abu Dhabi. "Depois de muitos anos de carreira e uma vida dedicada ao esporte consegui alcançar mais esse sonho na minha vida, que era de um dia lutar na maior organização do mundo, o @ufc. Claro que foi uma longa jornada até aqui e isso não aconteceu do dia pra noite, tive muitos obstáculos pelo caminho nessa caminhada e 'O que está no caminho, vira o caminho'. Foi com esse […]
Avião do Real Madrid pousa com duas horas de atraso por tempestade; Fifa precisou intervir, diz jornalista
Condições climáticas adversas atrasaram a chegada do Real Madrid a Nova Jersey, nesta terça-feira, onde o clube enfrentará o PSG pela semifinal da Copa do Mundo de Clubes. O avião que levavam o elenco pousou na cidade com duas horas de atraso em relação ao que era previsto, o que levou o clube a suspender seus compromissos, inclusive a entrevista coletiva do técnico Xabi Alonso. O voo, que saiu de Palm Beach, na Flórida, saiu com uma hora de atraso por conta de um alerta de tempestade em algumas regiões do estado e nos arredores. No trajeto de duas horas entre a cidade e Nova Jersey, sofreu mais uma hora de atraso por conta do clima. Segundo a imprensa da Espanha, a aeronave passou quase uma hora sobrevoando a cidade de Washington em círculos até ser autorizada a pousar no […]
Real Madrid’s Club World Cup semi-final preparation disrupted by flight delay
Real Madrid failed to attend their pre-match media activities ahead of Wednesday’s Club World Cup semi-final against Paris St. Germain following a flight delay caused by storms in the Miami and New York areas.Coach Xabi Alonso’s press conference and the mixed zone interview session with players Thibaut Courtois, Federico Valverde and Jacobo Ramón were initially scheduled for 7:30 and 7:45 pm ET respectively, at MetLife Stadium.AdvertisementHowever, Madrid’s scheduled 4 pm flight from the team’s Miami base was delayed an hour by adverse weather conditions. FIFA initially delayed Alonso’s press conference to 8:15 pm and made plans to scrap the mixed zone. The Athletic learned from a Madrid source at 7:28 pm that the team was still in mid-air and then, six minutes later, FIFA announced the cancellation of all Madrid press activities for the day. Madrid touched down safely at […]
Related
Mahomes, dos Chiefs, revela que recebeu conselhos de Tom Brady: “Ele não tem obrigação de fazer isso”
Tom Brady e Patrick Mahomes em duelo na NFL. Foto: Mike Ehrmann/Getty ImagesTom Brady, considerado o “Goat” da NFL, e Patrick Mahomes, apelidado de “Baby Goat”, tiveram conversas particulares recentemente. O quarterback do Kansas City Chiefs exaltou o perfil de liderança do ex-jogador do New England Patriots e revelou que recebeu conselhos valiosos do eterno camisa 12. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE“Conversei muito com o Tom. É incrível que ele tire um tempo para me aconselhar”, enalteceu Mahomes, em entrevista ao programa “Up & Adams”. O camisa 15 do time de Kansas é frequentemente comparado a Brady por conta do seu talento e feitos impressionantes em sete anos como titular na NFL, mas isso não é motivo para criar qualquer clima de rivalidade entre os dois ícones do futebol americano.“Ele não tem obrigação nenhuma de fazer isso. É realmente um cara do bem, […]
Deandre Ayton excited to play with ‘super-ripped’ Luka Dončić on Lakers: ‘This feels like a video game’
DeAndre Ayton has his fresh start and the Los Angeles Lakers have their new featured big man.The former No. 1 overall pick was introduced in Los Angeles on Tuesday after signing a two-year, $16.6 million deal in free agency following his buy-out with the Portland Trail Blazers. Judging from what he had to say, he's a bit more excited about what he can do with the Lakers.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementSpecifically, he can't wait to play with Luka Dončić. From ESPN:"This feels like a video game, like somebody set it up," Ayton, decked out in an all-black suit, said at his introductory news conference. "This is an opportunity that I won't take for granted. Luka is a once-in-a-generation player, and I'm happy to be his teammate. Hearing about the kind of shape he's been in, he's super ripped, and I'm finally glad to be […]
Jacob Misiorowski strikes out 12 Dodgers in Brewers win, outduels Clayton Kershaw despite leadoff HR from Shohei Ohtani
Jacob Misiorowski faced perhaps the stiffest test yet of his sensational rookie campaign on Tuesday against the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.He passed, with honors.Misiorowski allowed a leadoff home run to Shohei Ohtani on the third pitch of the game. From there, he struck out 12 and didn't allow another run to power the Brewers to a 3-1 win over the Dodgers.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIt added up to another sensational outing from the hard-throwing right-hander, who outdueled Dodgers legend Clayton Kershaw to pick up the win.Los Angeles hitters posted a season-high 15 strikeouts for the game as the Dodgers lost their fifth straight and their second straight to the Brewers. They remain in control of the NL West with a 56-37 record. The Brewers improved to 52-40 to move within three games of the first-place Chicago Cubs in the NL Central.Misiorowski fired […]
Lenda do jiu-jitsu, Marcus ‘Buchecha’ Almeida assina com o UFC e já tem estreia marcada
O brasileiro 13 vezes campeão mundial de jiu-jitsu, Marcus "Buchecha" Almeida, de 35 anos, anunciou nesta terça-feira ter assinado com a organização de MMA, UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship). Almeida luta na categoria peso-pesado (-120kg) e já tem data e adversário marcados para a estreia. Ainda neste mês, no dia 26, a lenda do grapppling — esportes de combate com imobilizações — testará suas forças contra o eslovaco Martin Buday, em Abu Dhabi. "Depois de muitos anos de carreira e uma vida dedicada ao esporte consegui alcançar mais esse sonho na minha vida, que era de um dia lutar na maior organização do mundo, o @ufc. Claro que foi uma longa jornada até aqui e isso não aconteceu do dia pra noite, tive muitos obstáculos pelo caminho nessa caminhada e 'O que está no caminho, vira o caminho'. Foi com esse […]
Avião do Real Madrid pousa com duas horas de atraso por tempestade; Fifa precisou intervir, diz jornalista
Condições climáticas adversas atrasaram a chegada do Real Madrid a Nova Jersey, nesta terça-feira, onde o clube enfrentará o PSG pela semifinal da Copa do Mundo de Clubes. O avião que levavam o elenco pousou na cidade com duas horas de atraso em relação ao que era previsto, o que levou o clube a suspender seus compromissos, inclusive a entrevista coletiva do técnico Xabi Alonso. O voo, que saiu de Palm Beach, na Flórida, saiu com uma hora de atraso por conta de um alerta de tempestade em algumas regiões do estado e nos arredores. No trajeto de duas horas entre a cidade e Nova Jersey, sofreu mais uma hora de atraso por conta do clima. Segundo a imprensa da Espanha, a aeronave passou quase uma hora sobrevoando a cidade de Washington em círculos até ser autorizada a pousar no […]
Real Madrid’s Club World Cup semi-final preparation disrupted by flight delay
Real Madrid failed to attend their pre-match media activities ahead of Wednesday’s Club World Cup semi-final against Paris St. Germain following a flight delay caused by storms in the Miami and New York areas.Coach Xabi Alonso’s press conference and the mixed zone interview session with players Thibaut Courtois, Federico Valverde and Jacobo Ramón were initially scheduled for 7:30 and 7:45 pm ET respectively, at MetLife Stadium.AdvertisementHowever, Madrid’s scheduled 4 pm flight from the team’s Miami base was delayed an hour by adverse weather conditions. FIFA initially delayed Alonso’s press conference to 8:15 pm and made plans to scrap the mixed zone. The Athletic learned from a Madrid source at 7:28 pm that the team was still in mid-air and then, six minutes later, FIFA announced the cancellation of all Madrid press activities for the day. Madrid touched down safely at […]
Be the first to leave a comment