Paddy Pimblett seems to be challenged for the UFC Lightweight title in his next outing.
Although Ilia Topuria suggested that Pimblett may not be the next after their heated face-off in the Octagon on UFC 317, it is not to be denied that this is the greatest fight in the lightweight division.
'The Baddy' was linked to a fight with Justin Gaethje on UFC 319 next month before Pimblett closed these rumors.
Although many of his colleagues do not believe that Pimblett can beat Topuria, this is not the way the Brit and his team see the matchup.
Pimblett even believes that he has one important advantage over 'El Matador', which could drastically change how a fight takes place between them.
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
Paddy Pimblett believes that he has a mental lead over Ilia Topuria who is emotionally around him
In a recent interview with Sky Sports, Paddy Pimblett spoke about his rivalry with Ilia Topuria and what went on UFC 317.
It was not long before the two men became intense as soon as Pimblett joined the new lightweight champion in the Octagon.
Their rivalry goes back a few years and although 'The Baddy' has published how much he does not like Topuria, he still believes that he has a mental lead over 'El Matador'.
Pimblett referred to Topuria's reaction when they came face-to-face and claim that he believes that the champion lets his emotions overcome him when they are in the same environment.
The lightweight competition believes that the emotions of the unbeaten star, and his incredibly high self -confidence, will play a major role if they finally go against each other.
“He becomes emotional with me. As you know, emotion can play a big factor in a fight about how you are fighting. I just think I am his Kryptonite and people can laugh me everything they want if I say it, but I really believe I would finish him.
“He had come out and definitely try to take my head off and he could not. The amount he spoke about finishing me in the first round, when that first round ends, if he has not finished me by that time and I am still there, it would be a mental thing in his head.”
Paddy Pimblett admits that he is not the most deserving lightweight title –
The face-off between Paddy Pimblett and Ilia Topuria led some to argued that #1 competition Arman Tsarukyan should be the next in line instead.
Pimblett tackled this during the interview and partly agrees with this sentiment, although he also added that there are disadvantages of the Tsarukyan claim.
'The Baddy' continued to refer how there are numerous examples of hunters who receive title recordings if they do not earn the most in response to the criticism with which he has had to deal with.
“To be honest, Arman is probably the most deserves, but at the same time, right? Because he has divided Charles [Oliveira] in a fight [that] Many people think that Charles has won. It just annoys me when people say I don't earn … People have a different opinion like me. If they are these other hunters, it's good. “