Gaethje: Topuria beats 'goofy' Pimblett 97 times out of 100

Justin Gaethje believes Ilia Topuria would beat Paddy Pimblett in nearly every scenario despite losing to both men in 2026.

Speaking at the UFC Hall of Fame event, Gaethje told reporters that Topuria remains the more dangerous fighter even though Pimblett went the distance with him in January while Topuria was stopped in the fourth round. "I think Ilia is way more dangerous," Gaethje said, per MMA Mania. "Fighting is crazy. In my mind, 97 out of 100 times, Ilia beats him up."

Why Gaethje Still Favors Topuria Over Pimblett

Gaethje acknowledged that Pimblett's unorthodox movement makes him a tough puzzle. He called the Englishman "goofy" in his approach, noting that the style creates problems. "He's really hard to hit, really long. He moves in weird angles and at different times. That throws you off and that's why he has success," Gaethje explained. But he ranked Topuria among the most dangerous fighters in the sport regardless of those wrinkles.

Pimblett faces Benoit Saint-Denis at UFC 329 on Saturday in Las Vegas. A win could position him for a title eliminator, possibly against Topuria if the former featherweight champion moves up to lightweight. The two have traded words before, and a booking between rising stars with bad blood could headline a major card later this year.

Photo: The White House / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain

Original reporting:

• mmamania.com — Ilia Topuria beats up ‘goofy’ Paddy Pimblett 97 times out of 100, per Justin Gaethje | UFC 329 | MMA Mania