Who is Paddy Pimblett, Ilia Topuria’s arch enemy and possible next rival?
Paddy Pimblett, who may well be Ilia Topuria’s next UFC rival, has been embroiled in a long-running feud with the Hispano-Georgian.
One of the UFC’s most anticipated rivalries finally looks headed to the cage. After Ilia Topuria’s stunning knockout victory over Charles Oliveira to become a two-division champion, the Spanish-Georgian star was confronted in the Octagon by none other than Paddy Pimblett. The face-off set the stage for what could be Topuria’s first lightweight title defense - and one of the most hyped fights of the year.
What’s behind the Topuria-Pimblett feud?
The bad blood between Topuria and Pimblett runs deep. Their feud dates back to UFC London in 2022, when Pimblett threw a bottle of hand sanitizer - or soap - at Topuria and began mocking him with nicknames like “hand sanitizer boy.” The two nearly came to blows at the hotel that same weekend and had to be separated.
Things escalated further when Pimblett made an offensive remark referencing the 2008 Russo-Georgian War, a comment that deeply offended Topuria and turned the rivalry personal.
AND SO IT BEGINS 👀
— UFC (@ufc) June 29, 2025
Will we see @TopuriaIlia vs @PaddyTheBaddy next?!#UFC317 pic.twitter.com/tfsFNcMDI8
Heated staredown turns physical
Fast forward to today: Pimblett was seated cageside, just behind Topuria’s son Hugo. After Topuria’s emphatic win, Pimblett was invited into the cage, where the two engaged in a heated staredown that ended with Topuria shoving him.
Pimblett remains one of the UFC’s most charismatic and polarizing figures. Known for his dramatic weight fluctuations, viral eating videos, and even grappling military personnel, he’s a full-blown entertainer - and fans love it.
Currently ranked No. 8 in the lightweight division, Pimblett is undefeated in his seven UFC appearances. While Topuria is widely seen as the superior fighter, the rivalry and hype surrounding this matchup could make it one of the biggest box office draws of the year.
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