Topuria Warns Pimblett Over His Controversial Comments – ‘I’m Going To Take Your Head Off’

UFC Featherweight Champion Ilia Topuria has warned Paddy Pimblett over his controversial comments. 

Topuria reacted after Pimblett suggested that he would be open to fighting him if the champion moved up to lightweight. Topuria knocked out Max Holloway at UFC 308 in his last fight to make a successful first defense of his featherweight title. He has spoken about moving up to lightweight, and he has eyes on facing the UFC Lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev.

However, reports indicate that Makhachev is not focused on that fight, as he has his ambition of becoming a two-weight UFC champion. Makhachev could target a move up to welterweight or middleweight to secure another belt before he retires. That leaves Topuria with a decision to make. He could move up to face Pimblett before trying to secure a title shot.

Paddy’s last fight was a victory against King Green at UFC 304. He stopped King in the first round by a triangular choke to take his undefeated record to 6-0. It was the best win of Pimblett’s career since it was the first time he had beaten a ranked opponent. The victory also meant that he became ranked by the UFC. If there is enough traction among the fanbase, a Topuria-Pimblett fight could play out. 

Pimblett and Topuria previously exchanged heated words during a UFC Fight Night event. Pimblett made controversial comments referring to Ilia as stupid. He also stated that “No wonder the Russians terrorize their lives.” Those comments did not sit well with the featherweight champion. He accused Pimblett of using distressing scenes to hype himself up for a fight. Topuria warned Pimblett that there would be trouble if they ever crossed paths. Pimblett is now calling for a fight at lightweight. 

Topuria Vs. Pimblett

“He has a lot of hype this and that but the quality of the fighter he is, …man come on please don’t even compare me to that boom! …He started to talk about the war we had against Russia and that he said something ‘now I understand why, …why the Russians put the bombs in in Georgia’… and many kids died in that war! When you start to joke about that kind of things just make sure that we don’t find each other anywhere because I’m going to take your head off! he wants to build his hype laughing on people and that’s not the way I’m looking to build a hype,” Topuria said 

“Ilia’s a midget. People don’t understand how much bigger I am than Ilia. I’m so much bigger than him, people don’t realize. I’d love to do a staredown with him just so everyone could see how much bigger I actually am than him. Don’t get me wrong, he’s very good. Just cause I don’t like him doesn’t mean I’m gonna sit here and lie. He’s a very good fighter, he is, but I also think he got fast-tracked to the belt because Volk had cleared the featherweight division out already. I think he got fast-tracked to the belt,” Pimblett stated 

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