Mar 22, 2025; London, England, United Kingdom; Paddy Pimblett, UFC Lightweight fighter, watches as Jai Herbert (red gloves) fights against Chris Padilla (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at O2 Arena. Mandatory Credit: Peter van den Berg-Imagn Images

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Paddy Pimblett vs Ilia Topuria? ‘Baddy’ Hints At Mega-Grudge Match As Rumors Of First Paramount Card Emerge

Some UFC rivalries simmer quietly in the background until the perfect moment arrives. Others burn hot and loud from the very start, demanding attention from everyone involved. The bad blood between Paddy Pimblett and Ilia Topuria falls squarely into that second category. These two have been going at each other for years now.

Their feud exploded into public view during a heated confrontation at a UFC London fighter hotel back in 2022. Since then, every social media exchange and face-to-face encounter has added more fuel to this fire. The two lightweights even had an intense faceoff inside the cage at UFC 317 earlier this year. Now, with the UFC preparing to launch its massive Paramount broadcasting partnership, this grudge match might finally happen.

Paddy Pimblett Drops Cryptic Social Media Hint

Paddy Pimblett recently posted a cryptic message on Instagram that sent the MMA world into speculation overdrive. The Liverpool native wrote a caption asking why ‘hand sanitizer boy’ hasn’t signed the contract yet. For those not familiar with Pimblett’s trash talk, hand sanitizer boy is his dismissive nickname for Ilia Topuria. The implication was crystal clear: Paddy believes he’s signed his side of a contract for their long-awaited showdown.

“‘Paddy why hasn’t [hand sanitizer boy] signed the contract yet?’”

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As of right now, no official sources have confirmed that this fight is actually being negotiated. But Pimblett’s confidence suggests something is brewing behind the scenes at UFC headquarters. He’s either trolling Topuria hard or genuinely believes the promotion wants to make this fight happen soon.

The promotion signed a massive seven-year broadcast deal with Paramount worth $7.7 billion that kicks in January 2026. UFC CEO Dana White recently teased that the first major Paramount card needs a headline-worthy champion to launch their new era properly. A grudge match between Pimblett and Topuria would definitely generate the buzz they are looking for.

Ilia Topuria Confirms Paramount Card Interest

Ilia Topuria (17-0) himself has addressed the possibility of headlining that inaugural Paramount event. When asked by Betsson Sport about the rumored opportunity, the lightweight champion responded that it’s very possible he will be featured on that card. ‘El Matador’ didn’t confirm any specific opponent, but the timing lines up perfectly with Pimblett’s social media teasing.

🚨 Ilia Topuria was asked about the possibility of him headlining the first UFC Paramount card in January

"It's very possible." 👀👀

(via @BetssonSport) pic.twitter.com/ercaTNj5Rq
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) October 17, 2025

Topuria became UFC lightweight champion in June 2025 after knocking out Charles Oliveira in the first round at UFC 317. Before moving up to 155 pounds, he dominated the featherweight division by stopping Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway. He vacated that featherweight belt earlier this year to focus completely on lightweight, where bigger challenges and legacy fights await him.

A Topuria versus Pimblett fight makes business sense beyond just their rivalry. Paddy Pimblett brings a massive UK following that translates to pay-per-view buys and social media engagement. Topuria has become a global star with his exciting fighting style and confident personality. Put them together on the UFC’s first major Paramount card, and fans have got an event they will actually remember!

(Image Credit: Peter van den Berg – Imagn Images)

Ilia Topuria

Paddy Pimblett

Paramount+

UFC 324

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!