One of the UFC -Fedweight champion Ilia Topuria's greatest opponents believes that he is lying about his move to lightweight.
Ilia Topuria makes the full -time switch to lightweight only a few months after defending the leash of featherweight for the first time. Although the addition of Topuria to the lightweight division is exciting, not everyone loves their decision to turn away from a rematch with Alexander Volkanovski.
Minutes after switching off Max Holloway on UFC 308, Topuria focused his attention on a rematch with Volkanovski after their UFC 298 headliner last year. The two had a short interaction after the fight in the Octagon and the featherweight title holder seemed on board with the granting of Volkanovski a shot on the title.
But Topuria changed thoughts and announced a full -time step to lightweight, so Volkanovski was set up to tackle Diego Lopes on UFC 314. One of the greatest enemies in Topuria believes that the featherweight is champion about his allegedly rough weight reductions up to 145 LBS.
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
Paddy Pimblett claims Ilia Topuria 'Rende' from Alexander Volkanovski Rematch
During a recent interview with Shakiel Mahjouri from CBS Sports, Paddy Pimblett was asked for his first thoughts in learning about the lightweight movement of Topuria.
“I thought” wow, you're stupid. Why did you move to this division? “Said Pimblett of Topuria. “He's small. He is like 5'5 ″, 5'6 ”. He has the guts to call me fat when he says he can no longer make 145 when he is a dwarf, it's just not logical. I think he walked from 145 to be honest. Because he knew [Volkanovski] From a knockout loss 12 weeks earlier, he would give him a much more difficult fight than his first fight with him.
And he had too [Diego] Lopes to fight. I would have had much more respect for Ilia if he defended that belt twice, and I think he could keep his belt, leave and go up to fight to fight Islam or the one who has the belt at the time. But I don't think he deserves a straight title shot and I don't think the UFC does that. “
If Topurria does not get the next lightweight title shot against Islam Makhachev, a long -awaited collision with Pimblett could be on the horizon. Pimblett recently recorded Topuria on a three-man hit list after his upcoming fight with Michael Chandler.
Ilia Topuria that is approaching 'incredible' lightweight fighting announcement
After Dana White's non -committal attitude on Makhachev vs. Topuria, Topuria could possibly get a top candidate before earning a title shot. A matchup with UFC 313 winner Justin Gaethje is possible, as well as a collision with former title holder Charles Oliveira.
Pimblett has the chance to get into the title mix in his upcoming fight on UFC 314. He and Topuria have an extensive history of bad blood.
Topuria and Pimblett arrived in London in London in London in London in London in 2022. The two hunters almost almost came to the press conference of the UFC 282, and a fight seemed destined to come out of bleeding after both fighters had abandoned the event overcome.
Topuria turned opposite Pimblett in 2023 and doubted the star power and performance of the British hunter. After Topuria had announced his move to 155 pounds in recent months, the debate on a fight with Pimblett threw.
Topuria and Pimblett were able to arrange their many years of beef in the Octagon in 2025. But for now, when the featherweight division enters a new era, Pimblett believes that Topuria's legacy has been affected.
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