Paddy Pimblett: Ilia Topuria too small for lightweight

Paddy Pimblett says Ilia Topuria proved he cannot survive at lightweight and would retreat to featherweight if the two ever fought.

Topuria carried a 17-1 record and the featherweight belt into his 155-pound title defense against Justin Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250 last month. Gaethje battered him across four rounds before Topuria's corner stopped the fight, handing the Georgian his first lightweight loss as a champion.

Pimblett claims weight classes expose Topuria's size

Pimblett, who lost to Gaethje in January when the American won the interim belt, told Spinnin Backfist that Topuria belongs a weight class below. "I always say we have weight classes for a reason," Pimblett said, per the outlet. "Ilia Topuria is a fat featherweight. He's not a lightweight. And if I ever fight him, people will realize that. If he fights me, he will move back down to 145 [pounds]. Because he will realize how small he is for [lightweight]."

The Liverpool native harbors no bitterness over his loss to Gaethje. He called it destiny that an American claimed the title on the White House lawn during the UFC Freedom card. "I've got no animosity towards Justin Gaethje," Pimblett said. "He beat me; better man won on the night. I think it was fate for him to beat me, so that he could beat Ilia on the White House lawn."

Pimblett meets Benoit St. Denis on July 11 at UFC 329 in Las Vegas. St. Denis brings a four-fight finishing streak into T-Mobile Arena.

Reported via:

• Sherdog — Ilia Topuria’s lightweight future questioned by Paddy Pimblett