Justin Gaethje has offered a blunt assessment of a potential showdown between Paddy Pimblett and Ilia Topuria, weighing up the styles of two fighters long described as being on a collision course.
Speaking on UFC on Paramount+, Gaethje praised Topuria’s elite status while contrasting him with Pimblett’s unorthodox approach. “Ilia is one of the best in the world,” Gaethje said.
“He is one of the most dangerous fighters that there is and he's a lot more dangerous than Paddy Pimblett. However, Paddy Pimblett is goofy. He's got a funky style – not goofy in a bad way. Being goofy is such an asset. He's really hard to hit. He's really long. He moves in weird angles and at different times.”
Gaethje pointed to that unpredictability as a key factor in Pimblett’s success, tying it to other fighters known for unconventional timing. “That throws you off, and that's why he has success. That's why guys like Sean Strickland have success and Dricus Du Plessis have success – because their timing is just different and funky, and having a funky style is hard to figure out. I think Ilia is way more dangerous. I think fighting is crazy. In my mind, I think 97 out of 100 times, Ilia beats him up.”
Pimblett, 23-4 in MMA and 7-1 in the UFC, is currently focused on Benoit Saint Denis, with their bout set as the co-main event of UFC 329 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, broadcast on Paramount+.
