Dec 10, 2022; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Paddy Pimblett (red gloves) enters the arena before the fight against Jared Gordon (blue gloves) during UFC 282 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

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Ilia Topuria Determines Paddy Pimblett’s Easiest Path To The Title That Goes Through A Legend Killer!

Ilia Topuria wants Paddy Pimblett fight next, wants him to fight this legendary veteran fighter to earn his shot!

The lightweight division has always been UFC’s most brutal battlefield. Every fighter dreams of wearing that golden belt around their waist. But getting there is where things get messy, complicated, and downright ugly sometimes.Ilia Topuria knows this game better than most people.

The Georgian-Spanish fighter already conquered the featherweight division by dethroning legends like Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway. Now he’s setting his sights on lightweight gold, facing Charles Oliveira at UFC 317. But Topuria isn’t just thinking about winning his next fight. He’s already planning his first title defense, and he has some strong opinions about how his potential opponent should earn that shot.

Ilia Topuria Reveals Perfect Opponent For Paddy Pimblett

Topuria and Paddy Pimblett share some serious history. These two got into a physical altercation years ago before a UFC event in London. Since then, their relationship has been sour. The tension between them has only grown stronger over time, creating the perfect storm for what could be an absolutely massive fight.

Pimblett recently demolished Michael Chandler. That victory put the Liverpool native right back in the conversation for big fights. But according to Topuria, Pimblett needs to take a specific path if he wants to guarantee himself a title shot.

“If he wants to assure his title, he has to fight with Justin Gaethje. Because if he fights with Arman [Tsarukyan], I think Arman’s going to beat him. So the easiest path he has to get the title shot is Justin. Stylistically,” Topuria said during UFC 317 media day.

"Easily could be one of the biggest in UFC history."#UFC317 headliner Ilia Topuria advises Paddy Pimblett on the "easiest path" to face him for UFC gold 💰 pic.twitter.com/m8HePLQ16Y
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) June 25, 2025

Justin Gaethje represents everything dangerous about the lightweight division. He has built his reputation by breaking opponents with devastating leg kicks and violent exchanges. He’s the definition of a legend killer, someone who ends careers and dreams with equal efficiency. But Topuria sees this matchup as Pimblett’s best chance for success, at least compared to other options.

The alternative path involves Arman Tsarukyan, who’s currently serving as the backup fighter for UFC 317. Tsarukyan was supposed to fight Islam Makhachev for the title back in January, but a back injury forced him out of that opportunity. Topuria believes Tsarukyan would present serious problems for Pimblett stylistically. Meanwhile, Gaethje has already announced his intention to wait for the winner of Topuria vs Oliveira. Fighting Pimblett might not appeal to him much, considering he’s looking for the most direct route to championship gold. Fans will have to wait for the UFC 317 results and what follows next!

(Image Credit: Per Haljestam – Imagn Images)

Arman Tsarukyan

Ilia Topuria

Justin Gaethje

Paddy Pimblett

UFC 317

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!