Paddy Pimblett: I'd "send him back down to featherweight" if I fought Ilia Topuria
Pimblett wants to coach The Ultimate Fighter against Topuria and says he would beat him "as fast as McGregor beat Aldo".
Paddy Pimblett says he would love to fight Ilia Topuria, and would beat him badly enough to send him back to featherweight.
"I would love to fight Ilia Topuria. I'll beat him that bad, I'll send him back down to featherweight," the Liverpool fighter told Kolos MMA.
He wants the pair to coach a season of The Ultimate Fighter first. "I think me and Ilia Topuria would be a brilliant season of The Ultimate Fighter, because I'd get under his skin so much that when we come into the fight, I'd beat him just as fast as McGregor beat Aldo," Pimblett said. Conor McGregor knocked out Jose Aldo in 13 seconds at UFC 194.
Topuria lost to Justin Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250 in June. Gaethje has since said Topuria is "undersized" at lightweight and would have "a difficult time with Paddy".
Pimblett has fought twice this year, losing a decision to Gaethje for the interim lightweight title and then submitting Benoit Saint-Denis in 52 seconds at UFC 329.
Every UK fight result and what's next, every Friday. Get the free UK fight briefing
More MMA from Combat Sports UK
- Rafael dos Anjos open to Conor McGregor fight but won't wait like Michael Chandler
- UFC 332 weigh-in results: Natalia Silva 125lb, Wang Cong 124.5lb for flyweight title
- Raul Rosas Jr., 21, moves into the UFC bantamweight top 10 at No. 8
- Dana White backs King Green for a BMF title shot if he beats Esteban Ribovics
The UK fight briefing
The stories, results and upcoming fights worth knowing. Every Friday.