Ilia Topuria, set to headline UFC 317, indicated he`s not necessarily looking to fight Paddy Pimblett immediately, even if he wins this weekend.
The former UFC featherweight champion, Ilia Topuria, might be heading for a clash with his long-standing rival Paddy Pimblett if he captures the vacant lightweight title at UFC 317.
Topuria is headlining the highly anticipated UFC 317 event in Las Vegas this Saturday against former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira. Their bout is for the lightweight title, which was recently vacated by Islam Makhachev, who is reportedly moving up to welterweight.
Given their history, a fight between Topuria and his long-time adversary Paddy Pimblett could be a significant event if Topuria is victorious. However, somewhat unexpectedly, Topuria doesn`t seem eager to rush into a fight with Pimblett.
Ilia Topuria Offers Advice on Paddy Pimblett`s Title Shot Path
Pimblett recently put himself into the title contention discussion by defeating Michael Chandler at UFC 315. Although Topuria wasn`t overly impressed with Pimblett`s showing, he expressed excitement about the potential for a fight between them becoming a reality.
Topuria and Pimblett`s rivalry dates back years, notably including an altercation at a fighter hotel in London in 2022. Pimblett recently hinted at potentially causing disruption at UFC 317 if their paths were to cross.
While Topuria isn`t pushing for an immediate title defense against Pimblett should he win the belt, he proposed a specific opponent for the Liverpudlian to face to solidify his claim for a title shot.
Speaking at the UFC 317 media day press conference, Topuria was asked about what Pimblett needs to do to earn a title shot and make their long-awaited fight happen.
Topuria stated: “If he wants to guarantee his title shot, he has to fight Justin Gaethje. Because if he fights Arman, I think Arman is going to beat him.”
He added: “So the easiest path for him to get the title shot is Justin, stylistically.”
Arman Tsarukyan is currently the backup fighter for the Topuria vs. Oliveira main event at UFC 317. Tsarukyan was previously scheduled to fight Islam Makhachev but withdrew shortly before UFC 311 due to injury.
Pimblett has maintained an undefeated record in the UFC, with victories over fighters including Jared Gordon, Bobby Green, and Tony Ferguson. Meanwhile, Justin Gaethje has hinted at possible retirement if he doesn`t receive the next lightweight title opportunity.
A Win at UFC 317 Could Bring Islam Makhachev Back to Lightweight for Topuria
Although a Topuria vs. Makhachev fight isn`t immediate, it remains a possibility, especially as Makhachev prepares for a potential welterweight title challenge against Jack Della Maddalena later this year, aiming to become a two-division champion.
However, Makhachev hasn`t ruled out a return to the lightweight division for a significant fight and the right compensation. Topuria`s growing profile and pay-per-view appeal could provide the incentive for Makhachev to drop back down to 155 lbs.
Winning at UFC 317 offers Topuria the chance to usher in a new era for the UFC lightweight division. It wouldn`t be surprising if Islam Makhachev is the fighter Topuria calls out if he emerges victorious.
Neville Whittle