Ilia Topuria Speaks Out on Potential Fight with Paddy Pimblett Ahead of Main Event with Josh Emmett

Key Highlights :

1. Ilia Topuria and Paddy Pimblett have a rivalry due to messages exchanged on social media.

2. Their heated exchanges continued at a in December.

3. Topuria is preparing for his first main event against Josh Emmett this weekend and is expecting to fight Pimblett later in the year.

4. Pimblett has won his first four fights in the UFC, but is currently recovering from ankle surgery.

     UFC featherweight contender Ilia Topuria has spoken out about a potential fight with Paddy 'The Baddy' Pimblett ahead of his main event with Josh Emmett this weekend. The pair first clashed last March over messages exchanged on social media, resulting in Pimblett throwing a bottle of hand sanitiser at Topuria’s head.

     Despite the many headlines, it appears that Topuria doesn’t expect to be fighting Liverpool's Pimblett any time soon. The Georgian is preparing for his first main event against Josh Emmett this weekend, where a sixth-straight UFC win would place him firmly in featherweight title contention, while ‘The Baddy’ is currently recovering from injury.

     “(Pimblett's) a person that media attention-wise, he’s big. But as a fighter we all know he’s not worth anything. He’s not even ranked. He hasn’t done anything,” said Topuria. “So giving merit to a person that’s only where he is because he knows how to sell himself well, I don’t think that’s the right thing to do. We’re athletes. In the UFC, the difference between them and other organisations is that here what’s valued is the sport and Paddy, sporting wise, hasn’t achieved anything. That’s why he doesn’t interest me at all.”

     Pimblett, 28, has won his first four fights in the UFC and looks to be on the verge of a top 15 ranking in the lightweight division but is recovering from ankle surgery, following his controversial decision win over Jared Gordon at UFC 282. The former Cage Warriors champion has given an update on when he is hoping to return to the octagon.

     “I can’t wait,” said Pimblett. “I’m hoping to fight before the end of the year to be honest.”

     For now, the focus is on Topuria and his main event bout with Josh Emmett. The 24-year-old is looking to make a statement and prove that he is a legitimate contender in the featherweight division. Should he do so, it would be difficult for the UFC to ignore him and his potential matchup with Pimblett. Until then, the two will have to wait for their chance to settle the score in the octagon.

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