Paddy Pimblett Unleashes Scathing Rant On Ilia Topuria Following El Matador’s Move To Lightweight

Paddy ‘The Baddy’ Pimblett has slammed Ilia Topuria after the former featherweight champion opted to move up to lightweight.

Paddy Pimblett Slams Ilia Topuria For Move Up To Lightweight

The Liverpudlian UFC star has been involved in a long-standing rivalry with Topuria since their confrontation in London during March 2022.

Since then, the two have continued to throw verbal attacks at each other and Pimblett has pleaded for a fight against the former 145-pound champion.

This fight is now a real possibility after Topuria decided to vacate his featherweight title and move up to lightweight in search of a second title.

However, ‘The Baddy’ has now given his thoughts on El Matador’s move up to 155-pounds and believes Topuria is making a huge mistake.

Pimblett said (Via Round Eight Boxing): “It’s a big mistake. I think he knew that in a rematch with Volk, fighting Volk when he hasn’t been knocked out 12 weeks earlier with a naughty head kick, I think he knew Volk would give him a very tough test.

“He said he cemented his legacy at the weight. It’s a little bit of bullshit. Beat Volk again, beat Diego Lopes, beat Movsar Evloev, then you’ve cleared the division out, then move up.

“Champions are too quick to want to move up now and not defend the belt.”

During his time at featherweight, the Spanish-Georgian fighter beat two of the GOATs at 145lbs, as he knocked out both Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway.

This move up to lightweight seems to have set up an instant title fight against the pound-for-pound number one, Islam Makhachev.

Pimblett beleives that Topuria has next-to-no-hope in finding success at lightweight and claimed the knockout specialist is too small for the weight class.

Pimblett said (Via Round Eight Boxing): “That’s the fight I want. I want that fight. That’s another one just to prove everyone wrong. He’s a midget, lad. He’s not a lightweight.

“He shouldn’t be fighting at lightweight. He should just stop at featherweight. It’s going to be the downfall of his career.”

Paddy ‘The Baddy’ will be in action at UFC 314, as he faces his hardest fight so far by taking on Michael Chandler in April.