Ilia Topuria has named the opponent he wants for his UFC return, and it is the rival he has been trading jabs with for years. The former two-division champion has not fought since losing the lightweight title in June, and he wants Paddy Pimblett next.
“Paddy. Paddy. Paddy. I eat him like the sausage, which he is,” Topuria told ABC in his first interview since that defeat.
The 29-year-old also set a timeline:
“From April onward is when we are considering returning,” he said, promising a version of himself “like you have never seen him before.”
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Check out Ilia Topuria talking about his potential return and more below:
UFC CEO Dana White, on The Jim Rome Show this week, said the promotion is working toward that. White added that Topuria would return in 2027, but stopped short of naming who he would be up against.
Pimblett, ranked fifth at lightweight, has spent months asking for the fight. He submitted Benoit Saint-Denis in 52 seconds at UFC 329 in July, then ruled out January because he will not cut weight over Christmas. He has floated March or April for his own return, close to the window ‘El Matador’ has in mind.
While the UFC works out a date, the night Topuria is trying to move past is the one that gave Pimblett most of his ammunition.
Justin Gaethje ends Ilia Topuria’s unbeaten run at UFC Freedom 250
Ilia Topuria lost the lightweight title to Justin Gaethje in the main event of UFC Freedom 250 on June 14 at the White House in Washington, D.C. Gaethje, who had won the interim belt by beating Paddy Pimblett in January, took over in the third round, and Topuria’s corner stopped it at the end of the fourth. This was Topuria’s first ever MMA defeat.
Topuria suffered several injuries in the fight, and a 180-day medical suspension followed. He has spent recent weeks back in Georgia, teasing his return on social media.
Pimblett, for his part, had targeted Topuria prior to his fight against Gaethje, and continued to call out ‘El Matador’ even after UFC Freedom 250.
While the fight hasn’t been confirmed by the UFC, it seems like it would be the right one to make. Topuria and Pimblett have a simmering rivalry, and it makes sense for the pair to clash soon.
Edited by Saiyed Adeem Karim
