Apr 12, 2025; Miami, Florida, UNITED STATES; Paddy Pimblett (blue gloves) reacts after defeating Michael Chandler (not pictured) during UFC 314 at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

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Paddy Pimblett Calls Bernabeu ‘A Sh*thole’; Pushes For Massive Ilia Topuria Showdown!

The UFC has always thrived on personal rivalries that go beyond simple competition and dive straight into genuine dislike between fighters. Some of the sport’s biggest moments have come when two athletes genuinely can’t stand each other, and their verbal warfare creates the kind of buzz that sells massive pay-per-views. The latest chapter in this ongoing storyline involves Ilia Topuria and Paddy Pimblett, who have been circling each other for years.

The rivalry between these two fighters didn’t start yesterday. It dates back to a heated confrontation at UFC London in 2022 that showed genuine bad blood between them. That incident planted the seeds for what has become one of the most anticipated potential matchups in the lightweight division, especially now that Topuria has captured the belt and elevated his status significantly. Their personal history adds real stakes to any potential fight because you know both men would be motivated by more than just championship gold.

And now one of them has decided to insult one of the most famous football stadiums in the world while calling for their showdown. Pimblett vs Topuria, at this very stadium would potentially break attendance records and create one of the most unique atmospheres in UFC history.

Paddy Pimblett Goes Nuclear With Stadium Insults

Paddy Pimblett (23-3) has never been accused of being subtle with his trash talk. However, his latest comments about Ilia Topuria and their potential fight venue reached new levels of audacity. During an interview with eldobernardMMA, the Liverpool fighter didn’t just call out the newly crowned UFC lightweight champion. He went after the very stadium where he wants their fight to take place.

“I would love to come to Barnabeu and punch you in the face in front of 90,000 people and your fake countrymen because you’re really German… Barnabeu is a sh*thole.”

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This was a multi-layered attack that questioned Topuria’s nationality, insulted his potential home crowd, and somehow managed to trash-talk one of the most iconic sports venues in the world. Only Pimblett could make insulting a stadium part of his fight promotion strategy.

What makes this even more ridiculous is that Pimblett genuinely seems to want this fight to happen at the Bernabeu. Most fighters would try to build up a venue to make the fight seem more appealing, but Pimblett goes the opposite direction and still expects everyone to get excited about the matchup. This kind of logic only works when you have the kind of confidence that borders on delusion, which Pimblett has in spades.

(Image Credit: Sam Navarro – Imagn Images)

Ilia Topuria

Paddy Pimblett

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!