New UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria is expected to face Paddy Pimblett for his first title defense, amid ongoing tensions and Pimblett’s recent victory over Michael Chandler, though Chandler doubts Pimblett’s ability to dethrone Topuria.
New UFC lightweight champ Ilia Topuria is eagerly waiting for news on his first title defense. Rumor has it, a showdown with Paddy Pimblett might be on the horizon.
Topuria and Pimblett have quite the history. Remember their public spat and that infamous scuffle at a UFC event in London back in 2022? Drama!
Pimblett’s recent victory over Michael Chandler boosted his profile. The intense faceoff with Topuria post-title win in June added more fuel to the fire.
Chandler, though, isn’t entirely convinced Pimblett can dethrone Topuria. He acknowledges Pimblett’s skills but doubts his ability to beat the champ.
“Paddy might survive a round or two,” Chandler mused. “But Topuria is on another level.”
Chandler believes Topuria is not just the best in the lightweight division but possibly in the entire sport. High praise, right?
Topuria’s rise has been meteoric, knocking out Charles Oliveira to claim the lightweight title. Chandler respects his evolution as a fighter.
No sour grapes here. Chandler’s not picking against Pimblett out of spite but because he genuinely believes in Topuria’s prowess.
“Paddy’s better than people think,” Chandler admitted. He praised Pimblett’s octagon awareness and strategy during their fight.
Topuria, despite being shorter, packs a punch. Chandler noted his strategic brilliance—knowing when to strike, when to hold back.
The odds? Not in Pimblett’s favor, but he’s confident he can beat Topuria if given the chance. Anything can happen in a fight, right?
Chandler concedes Pimblett might pull off an upset, but on paper, Topuria’s skills seem insurmountable. “Fire with fire,” he said, might not be the best strategy for Pimblett.
So, who can beat Topuria among the lightweight contenders? Chandler thinks Arman Tsarukyan has the best shot.
However, Tsarukyan’s recent injury and withdrawal from a fight with Islam Makhachev might delay his title shot. Bad timing!
Chandler mentioned Justin Gaethje, Pimblett, and Tsarukyan as potential challengers. Yet, he leans toward Tsarukyan for his grappling strength.
Despite this, Chandler doesn’t think Tsarukyan will get the next title shot. UFC politics, right? “Not that interesting,” he quipped.
In this unpredictable world of MMA, who knows what’ll happen next? Stay tuned!