Paddy Pimblett is preparing for a title reign, aiming to fight Ilia Topuria after his upcoming bout against Justin Gaethje at UFC 324, but may face other contenders if Topuria remains inactive.
Paddy Pimblett’s already got his eyes on the title. This month, he’s stepping into the octagon against Justin Gaethje at UFC 324. The prize? The interim lightweight belt.
And what’s next? A showdown with Ilia Topuria, the current champ. Unless, of course, Topuria’s not up for it.
“It’s the fight to make,” Pimblett told Tom Aspinall. Yet, there’s uncertainty. Even though he doesn’t like Topuria, he admits, “I feel for him.”
If Topuria’s out, Pimblett’s got other plans. Maybe the winner of Max vs. Charles? That’d be a twist. A big “f*ck you” to Arman, as Pimblett puts it. Hilarious, right?
Max and Charles are set to clash, and the victor might just get a title shot. Meanwhile, Topuria, who snagged the title last summer, hasn’t defended it yet.
Rumors swirled about a Pimblett or Gaethje matchup at UFC 324. But personal issues have kept “El Matador” on the sidelines. A 2026 return was expected, but Pimblett’s hearing otherwise.
“People keep saying I might get upgraded like Tom did,” Pimblett shared. With whispers that Topuria won’t be back for a year or more, things could get messy.
If Topuria’s out too long, Pimblett thinks he should vacate. “I want to fight him,” he insists, but waiting? Not so much. “Just vacate and let the division crack on.”
Mark your calendars: UFC 324 hits Las Vegas on Jan. 24 at T-Mobile Arena.