Former UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria is backing his rival Paddy Pimblett to come out on top in some hypothetical high-profile matchups.
Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) and Pimblett (23-3 MMA, 7-0 UFC) have a strained relationship stemming from an altercation that occurred prior to UFC London in 2022.
Their rivalry recently resurfaced when Topuria announced he would be vacating the UFC featherweight title and making a permanent move to the lightweight division, where Pimblett currently competes.
While Topuria eagerly awaits word on whether he’ll receive an immediate title shot against Islam Makhachev (29-1 MMA, 16-1 UFC), Pimblett thrust himself into the title conversation last week with a dominant performance over Michael Chandler at UFC 314.
This week, Topuria suggested that Pimblett could be matched up with former title challenger Justin Gaethje (26-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC) in his next fight. Despite their rocky history, “La Leyenda” is backing the UK star to defeat Gaethje and earn a shot at the title.
"I would put Justin Gaethje against Paddy Pimblett, me against Islam," Topuria said on The Joe Rogan Experience. "Once I pass him, I get the title, and you put me against Paddy. I think he’s going to (beat Gaethje) easy. (Gaethje) doesn't know how to grapple, and Paddy knows how. Did you ever see him submitting someone? What everyone likes is to dominate people and to win as soon as possible. If you had the ability to submit someone as soon as you can, you would do it."
Gaethje also suggested that Pimblett would easily overcome former two-weight UFC champion Conor McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) if they were ever to meet inside the Octagon.
"Paddy beats him easy now," Topuria said of McGregor. "On the feet, he's a motherf*cker, I know that. He can knock out like everyone."
Topuria has often been linked to a fight with “The Notorious,” but the Spanish-Georgian insists he’s more interested in a potential bout with Pimblett—assuming the Liverpudlian continues his upward trajectory.
"What excites me more (than McGregor) is the fight with Paddy," Topuria said. "If they could put that fight in Spain, in the Bernabeu Stadium. I know that Dana doesn’t like to the put the events in stadiums, but that is the only stadium in the world that they can close the roof."
