Ilia Topuria, the undefeated UFC lightweight champion, has his sights set firmly on the talented Paddy Pimblett as his next opponent—but only if he remains in the lightweight division. What's truly intriguing is that Topuria's main ambition lies in moving up a weight class to challenge UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev, aiming for a historic third belt in a different division. But here's where it gets controversial: if the UFC doesn't greenlight his move to welterweight, Topuria insists he wants to face Pimblett for the lightweight title defense instead.
Topuria, boasting a perfect 17-0 MMA record and 9-0 in the UFC, recently shared with Alvaro Colmenero that Pimblett is top of mind for him if his welterweight dream doesn't materialize. He made it clear, "I'd like to fight Paddy if they don't let me move up to welterweight to fight Islam, because the fight I'd really like is against Islam in the third weight class."
Meanwhile, Arman Tsarukyan, who recently submitted Dan Hooker impressively at UFC Fight Night 265 in Qatar, claims Topuria is avoiding him. Tsarukyan's direct callout on social media suggests frustration, questioning if it's obvious that Topuria is doing everything possible to dodge a fight with him. This introduces a dramatic tension between top lightweights, sparking debate on who deserves the next shot.
Adding to the complexity, Makhachev has stated that dropping back down to lightweight for a bout with Topuria would require enormous incentives. Despite this, Topuria is fully prepared to fight Makhachev at welterweight or, in a twist of humor and ambition, humorously proposed that if the UFC blocks his move, maybe they could create a new "pound-for-pound" belt at a catchweight for them to contest. It’s a fascinating proposition that raises questions about weight class politics in MMA and the push for legacy fights.
So here’s the part most people miss—Topuria is not only challenging the norms by eyeing simultaneous success in multiple divisions, but he's also stirring the lightweight waters by calling out Pimblett and indirectly calling out Tsarukyan’s claim for a fight. Fans must ask themselves: Should the lightweight belt holder chase history by moving up, or should he solidify his dominance by facing all contenders head-on? And what do you think—is Topuria avoiding Tsarukyan, or is this just part of the strategic dance that fighters play? Share your thoughts and let the debate unfold!
