Recently crowned lightweight champion Ilia Topuria has intensified his rivalry with Paddy Pimblett. He claimed that he could finish the British contender in any humiliating manner of his choosing.
Speaking in a recent interview with TMZ Sports, Topuria didn’t mince words when discussing a potential showdown with the popular lightweight.
“With all the fans around the world, I think that they want to see that fight,” Topuria stated. “And at the same time, I have to be honest, I think it’s one of the easiest fights that I could have in the lightweight division.”
The Georgian-Spanish fighter, who recently captured UFC gold, expressed supreme confidence in his abilities against Pimblett. He added: “I don’t know, I can do with him whatever I want to do in reality. It’s like, it’s a very exciting fight for the fans. I’m going to enjoy a lot the whole process. And at the same time, it’s a fight where I’m going to be able to shine once again.”
When pressed for a prediction on how he would defeat Pimblett, Topuria didn’t hesitate to offer a graphic description of his intended victory.
“I promise you, I could, like, choose the way I want to finish,” he said confidently. When asked about the timing, he added, “First round? I feel like that’s for sure. He’s not going to stay there for more than one round with me.”
The champion then described his preferred method of victory: “Maybe it’s going to be cool. It’s going to be cool to submit him on the ground with a triangle choke from the mount. Something like that. Like, as I told him, put my balls in his forehead.”
This callout comes amid speculation about Topuria’s first title defense. While Arman Tsarukyan, currently ranked No. 2 in the lightweight division, believes he deserves the next shot, the UFC might capitalize on the heated rivalry between Topuria and Pimblett.
Tsarukyan has questioned Topuria’s ground skills, stating, “He never fought with wrestlers like me, who know freestyle wrestling. Bryce Mitchell, as the worst fighter at 145, he took him down and held him.”
Topuria and Pimblett had an impromptu face-off inside the Octagon after Topuria’s championship victory at UFC 317. However, UFC CEO Dana White later stated that “it should’ve never happened.”
