Ilia Topuria on coaching TUF against Paddy Pimblett: 'It's something that could happen'

Pimblett said in October he did not think Topuria had "got the balls" to coach The Ultimate Fighter against him. Topuria says nothing is official and he has not spoken to the UFC.

Ilia Topuria says coaching The Ultimate Fighter against Paddy Pimblett "could happen", weeks after Pimblett said he did not think Topuria had "got the balls" to do it.

"I heard something about that," Topuria told One on One MMA, in an interview reported by Bloody Elbow. "They want to do it, me against Paddy. Nothing official. I haven't spoken with anyone from the UFC. But, yeah, it's something that could happen. Why not? It would be a huge fight."

He added a warning for whoever he faces next. "As I told you, you put me against anyone right now, and I'm going to change their lives financially," he said. "And the bad part is that I'm going to change their lives physically also. Because they are going to face a man that has seen everything in this sport."

Pimblett pitched the idea of the pair coaching the show at the end of September, and repeated it to All Out Fighting in October. "I'd have his head in the shed for like six weeks," he said then. "I don't think he'll accept it. I'd love him to, but I just don't think he's got the balls."

UFC chief executive Dana White was asked about it at the UFC 332 post-fight press conference. "I mean, I love the idea of that," he said. "We'll see how the timing plays out, but that would definitely be a good one." Nothing has been announced.

Topuria lost the lightweight title to Justin Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250 in June, the first defeat of his career, and is targeting a return in 2027. He has also called Pimblett a sausage and named him as the opponent he wants. Pimblett lost a decision to Gaethje this year, then submitted Benoit Saint-Denis in 52 seconds at UFC 329. No fight between the two is booked.

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