TLDR
- Paddy Pimblett says he wants to fight Ilia Topuria and ‘smash his head in’ but no official talks have occurred
- Pimblett lists multiple potential opponents including Arman Tsarukyan, Justin Gaethje, Mauricio Ruffy, and Charles Oliveira
- The Liverpool fighter hopes to return to the Octagon in December if he fights again this year
- Pimblett is coming off a submission win over Benoit Saint Denis at UFC 329 in June
- Topuria lost his lightweight title to Justin Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250, with rematch talks reportedly underway
Sources: yardbarker.com | bjpenn.com | mmajunkie.usatoday.com
Paddy Pimblett has made it clear he wants to fight Ilia Topuria and harbors genuine hatred toward the former featherweight champion. The Liverpool lightweight told fans he wants to cause pain in Topuria’s life and hopes to face him inside the Octagon.
“I’d love to smash his head in, lad, but we need to wait and see,” Pimblett said in a recent interview with Eze Obas. “Nothing yet. No one’s spoke to me about it, so we’ll see what happens.”
Pimblett returned to title contention after quickly submitting Benoit Saint Denis at UFC 329 in June. His record now stands at 24-4 overall and 8-1 in the UFC.
The animosity between Pimblett and Topuria has been building for over a year. Topuria, who holds a 17-1 record in MMA and 9-1 in the UFC, lost his lightweight title to Justin Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250.
This post fight speech is what made me a die hard Paddy Pimblett fan
"I know i would rather me mate crying on me shoulder, than go to his funeral next week" pic.twitter.com/egRdbddZ7j
— The Combat Sport Poll Guy (@PollGuyUFC) July 13, 2026
Multiple Options on the Table
While Pimblett would prefer to settle scores with Topuria, he has several other potential opponents in mind. When asked about his next fight, the Liverpool native listed multiple top lightweights.
“Arman, Gaethje, Ruffy, Charles (Oliveira), there’s loads of names,” Pimblett said. “When I get told who I’m fighting, I’m sure everyone else will know.”
Arman Tsarukyan is scheduled to face Mauricio Ruffy in the UFC 331 co-main event on September 19. That fight could determine another potential opponent for Pimblett.
Pimblett previously lost an interim title fight to Justin Gaethje. Gaethje holds a record of 28-5 overall and 11-5 in the UFC.
Some observers have suggested a rematch with Gaethje makes sense for Pimblett’s next fight. However, the Liverpool fighter appears more interested in facing Topuria than running back the Gaethje rivalry.
Timeline for Return
Pimblett provided a potential timeline for his return to the Octagon. He stated that if he fights again this year, it would likely happen in December.
“If I fight again this year it’ll be in December hopefully, but we’ll see what happens,” Pimblett said. The UFC has not announced any official talks about Pimblett’s next opponent.
Pimblett trains out of Next Generation MMA in Liverpool. He has steadily climbed the lightweight rankings despite facing criticism about the level of his opponents.
Topuria currently does not hold the UFC featherweight title after his loss to Gaethje. UFC play-by-play commentator Jon Anik has claimed there are internal talks about a potential rematch between Gaethje and Topuria.
No announcement has been made regarding either the Gaethje-Topuria rematch or Pimblett’s next opponent. Pimblett said he has not received any official word from the UFC about who he will face next.
The lightweight division remains crowded with contenders. Charles Oliveira, one of the names Pimblett mentioned, is also in the mix for future title fights.
Pimblett’s victory over Saint Denis improved his standing in the division. The quick submission win demonstrated his grappling skills and finishing ability.
No camps have announced official negotiations for a Pimblett-Topuria fight. Pimblett said he is waiting to hear from the UFC about his next assignment.
