TLDR
- Paddy Pimblett believes Ilia Topuria will never be the same after losing his unbeaten record to Justin Gaethje
- Pimblett says Topuria is the only fighter left available for him to fight in the lightweight division
- The Liverpool fighter won’t compete in January and is targeting a March or April return
- Pimblett claims his early career losses give him a mental edge over Topuria, who lost for the first time at age 27
- No official fight between Pimblett and Topuria has been announced, though both have been linked to The Ultimate Fighter coaching roles
Sources: mmamania.com | themaclife.com | sherdog.com
Paddy Pimblett believes Ilia Topuria will never be the same fighter after losing to Justin Gaethje in June. The Liverpool fighter called his potential next opponent “damaged goods” and predicted he would struggle to recover mentally from his first professional defeat.
Topuria lost his UFC lightweight championship when his corner stopped the fight after four rounds at UFC Freedom 250. The Georgian-Spanish fighter had never lost before in his professional career.
😬Paddy Pimblett says Ilia Topuria will never be the same fighter after his loss to Justin Gaethje:
"I don’t think Ilia ever gonna be the same. I lost my first fight when I was 18 and I had to build myself back up.
He’s never lost before, and he’s about 27 or something. His…
— Full Mount MMA (@MMAFullMount) October 14, 2026
Pimblett has no fight scheduled at the moment and says he may not compete until March or April of next year. He last fought in July, when he submitted Benoit Saint-Denis in the first round at UFC 329.
Division Running Out of Options
Speaking to All Out Fighting, Pimblett explained that his division’s top fighters are already booked. He said Charles Oliveira appears set to fight Diego Lopes for the BMF title, while Arman Tsarukyan is expected to face Justin Gaethje.
“There’s only Ilia [Topuria] and Max [Holloway] all the way ranked above me,” Pimblett said. “I think Max is fighting for Conor [McGregor], to have that trilogy. So it’s only Ilia left, really.”
Pimblett ruled out fighting in January because he doesn’t want to go through his weight cut during the Christmas holidays. “Never fighting in January ever again,” he declared.
The UFC lightweight contender sits at number five in the rankings, while Topuria remains the top-ranked contender despite his loss to Gaethje. A fight between the two has been discussed but not officially announced.
Mental Edge From Early Career Losses
Pimblett believes his own experience with early defeats gives him an advantage over Topuria. He lost his first fight at age 18 and suffered another loss when he was 22 or 23 years old.
“I lost my first fight when I was 18 and I had to build myself back up and then I had to do it again when I was 22, 23,” Pimblett said. “He’s never lost before and he’s about 27 or something. So his whole aura was ‘unbeatable’ and this and that.”
Pimblett said losing that unbeaten record will haunt Topuria going forward. “Now he’s been beat. That’s in his head, and I’ll prove that if I end up fighting him next,” he stated.
The Liverpool fighter expressed frustration that Gaethje beat Topuria before he had the chance. He also beat Pimblett earlier this year, making Gaethje the common opponent between the two potential rivals.
Pimblett holds physical advantages over Topuria, standing three inches taller with a four-inch reach advantage. “I respect him; he’s a very good fighter, but he’s never fought anyone like me,” Pimblett said. “I’m too big and too long for him, and I’ll show him that when I beat him up.”
The UFC has not confirmed plans for a matchup between Pimblett and Topuria. Both fighters have been linked with a potential coaching rivalry on The Ultimate Fighter, though no official announcement has been made.
Pimblett currently ranks fifth in the UFC lightweight division, while Topuria holds the number one contender spot despite losing his title to Gaethje.
