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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‘If I Beat Gaethje, I Am Next In Line’ – Paddy Pimblett Favors Ilia Topuria To Win The Title, Wishes To Fight Him After Justin Gaethje Fight!

Paddy Pimblett reveals the fighter he wants to win at UFC 317, gives his take on a potential fight with Justin Gaethje next!

The UFC lightweight division has been a roller coaster ride lately. First, fans saw the reign of Islam Makhachev, then his sudden decision to vacate the belt, and now a wild scramble among contenders. Amidst this chaos stands Liverpool’s own Paddy Pimblett. He is fresh off his shocking knockout victory over Michael Chandler at UFC 314. This win wasn’t just another notch on his belt, it was a statement that sent shockwaves through the division.

Nobody saw it coming, especially not Chandler, who desperately needed that win to stay relevant in the title picture. The lightweight division hasn’t been this exciting in years. With Makhachev moving up to welterweight, the door is wide open for a new champion to emerge. Charles Oliveira and Ilia Topuria are set to battle for the vacant title at UFC 317, and fighters like Pimblett are suddenly much closer to gold than they might have expected.

Also Read: Former Bellator Champion Patchy Mix Joins The UFC, Set To Make Short Notice UFC Debut At UFC 316!

Paddy Pimblett Is Backing Topuria For The Belt And Ready to Face Him

In a recent interview with Adam Catterall of TNT Sports, Pimblett made some surprising revelations about who he is rooting for in the upcoming title fight.

‘Yeah that will be nice. But I was thinking about it the other day. It’s probably better for me if Ilia wins the belt, because he’ll probably call me out, Then I could just fight him. I don’t even have to fight Gaethje. I could just end up fighting Topuria.”

Paddy Pimblett wants Justin Gaethje next but sees a title fight scenario if Ilia Topuria claims vacant gold. pic.twitter.com/mQimMrHwXI
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) May 16, 2025

The logic behind Pimblett’s preference makes perfect sense from a career standpoint. He and Topuria have history. They nearly came to blows at a UFC event back in 2023, creating the kind of genuine bad blood that sells pay-per-views. While Pimblett admits to being a fan of Oliveira’s fighting style, he recognizes that a Topuria victory would potentially fast-track him to a title shot.

Paddy Pimblett Gives His Take On Islam Makhachev vs Ilia Topuria

Pimblett recently weighed in on the surprising developments surrounding UFC 317. He had originally expected Islam Makhachev to face Ilia Topuria for the vacant lightweight title at the highly anticipated International Fight Week event. However, those plans were quickly upended when Makhachev vacated the championship, leaving the lightweight division wide open.

“If i was Islam, i would have fought Topuria, beat Topuria and then fight Jack Della Maddalena like 4 months later… I can see where he is coming from. He has already beat a featherweight twice, saying he doesn’t want to beat another featherweight… Would have been nice to see Islam school them”

Makhachev however had other plans. He vacated the lightweight belt to pursue his dream of becoming a double champ. Now he will take the fight to Jack Della Maddalena, and hope to capture his title.

Paddy Wishes To Fight Gaethje Next

Before any potential title shot materializes, Pimblett has his sights set on another lightweight monster, Justin Gaethje. Known for his all-action style and highlight-reel knockouts, Gaethje represents exactly the kind of test Pimblett needs to prove he belongs among the division’s elite.

“I know for a fact that if i beat Gaethje, i’m next in line… Abu Dhabi. October. That pay-per-view. That’s when I want to fight. That’s what I’ll be gearing towards. After what I’ve done to Michael Chandler, I think I finish Justin Gaethje too.”

Paddy Pimblett wants to fight Justin Gaethje next in October in Abu Dhabi 👀

"If I beat Gaethje I'm next in line. He could be [next], it's just if he says yea or not… Abu Dhabi, October. That's when I want to fight."

(via. @ufcontnt) #UFC #MMA pic.twitter.com/n5tza6TpMx
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) May 16, 2025

The timing makes sense. It gives him enough time to shed the post-Chandler celebration weight and prepare for what would undoubtedly be the toughest test of his career. Whether it is Gaethje next or a direct shot at Topuria (should he become champion), one thing is clear. Paddy Pimblett is no longer just an entertaining sideshow in the lightweight division. He is a legitimate contender with a clear path to the top. And in true ‘Baddy’ fashion, he’s not afraid to tell fans exactly how he plans to get there.

(Imagn Images – Sam Navarro – Imagn Images)

Justin Gaethje

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!