Paddy Pimblett is questioning Ilia Topuria’s future at 155 pounds following the former featherweight champion’s loss to Justin Gaethje.
Topuria vacated his featherweight belt to move up to lightweight and lost his 155-pound title to Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250 in June by fourth-round TKO via doctor’s stoppage. Pimblett, who previously lost to Gaethje himself, believes size is a key issue for the Spaniard in his new division.
"I always say it, we have weight classes for a reason," Pimblett said. "Ilia Topuria is a fat featherweight. He's not a lightweight lad, and if I ever fight him, people will realize that. If he fights me, he will move back down to '45 because he will realize how small he is for the weight."
Pimblett also described how Gaethje’s win over Topuria affected his own mindset. "It did motivate me," he said. "As soon as I seen him win, because I was thinking Justin Gaethje just beat me, am I ever going to get anywhere near the title now? Like, was that my chance? And then he goes out there – I actually said I thought Justin was going to win and everyone laughed at us. But I don't know why he was just saying that because he beat me up, and I know I'd beat Ilia Topuria. Justin beat me so, I was like Justin is going to win."
Pimblett, who holds a 23-4 MMA record and 7-1 UFC record, is scheduled to face Benoit Saint Denis in the UFC 329 co-headliner on July 11 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
