Paddy Pimblett rips Ilia Topuria after UFC White House loss

Paddy Pimblett fired back at Ilia Topuria after the two-division UFC champion was retired on his stool against Justin Gaethje at UFC White House on Sunday night.

Pimblett, who lost to Gaethje for the interim lightweight title earlier this year, revived a months-old social media post from Topuria that called him "little sausage" and mocked him for failing to beat "a 38-year-old guy." Writing on Monday morning, Pimblett returned serve. "The only thing you had to do was beat a 38 year old coming off of a 5 round war with me," Pimblett wrote, per MMA Fighting. "Instead you quit on your stool like the little b*tch you are I'm a real fighter and went 5 rounds, you're a little pretender chorizo!"

Topuria's corner stopped the fight after round four

Topuria landed body shots and hurt Gaethje in spots, but the American's jab battered his face and swelled both eyes. Referee Marc Goddard nearly stopped it after three rounds when the doctor examined Topuria, who protested and convinced officials to let him continue. Gaethje nearly finished him in the fourth. Topuria's corner pulled him before the fifth.

Gaethje told reporters after the bout he promised his mother he would not decide on retirement fight night. Who gets the next 155-pound title shot remains open — options include Pimblett if he beats Benoit Saint-Denis at UFC 329 on July 11, Arman Tsarukyan, who has lobbied for a title fight for over a year, and a potential Gaethje rematch with BMF champion Charles Oliveira.

Reported via:

• MMA Fighting — Paddy Pimblett rips ‘little b*tch’ Ilia Topuria over UFC White House performance