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Ilya Topriya Towards Paddy Pimblett After ‘Bad Guy’ fails in pursuit of interim lightweight gold The main event of UFC 324ruining the grudge showdown between opponents.
Liverpudlian Pimblett, 31, was beaten in a five-leg tie with Liverpool justin slavethey won by scores of 48-47, 49-46 and 49-46 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Pimblitt’s defeat in his first title shot meant that a long-awaited showdown with reigning lightweight king Topriya was all but impossible, with Gaethje now set to be next in line to unify the belts.
And “Matador”, with him pimblett told independent he has a common hatredrubbing salt into the fallen challenger’s wounds, emphasizing that Pimblett just missed out on an opportunity and a payday.
Toplia took it X And wrote: “Little sausage, the only thing you have to do is beat a 38-year-old guy. You just lost the biggest salary of your life. If you win, you will become rich.”
In 2022, Topriya confronted the Liverpudlian at the Fighter Hotel ahead of UFC London, taking issue with alleged anti-Georgian tweets posted by “Bad Paddy”; Topriya is of Spanish and Georgian heritage. On the defensive side, Pimblett throws a bottle of hand sanitizer at Topria.
As such, fans have long wanted to see a match between the two, although it appears they’ll have to wait a while before such a match is booked.
Topriya, a two-weight UFC champion who previously conquered the featherweight division, turned his attention to American Gaethje, congratulating him before issuing a stern warning to the 38-year-old.
“Justin, all I can say is congratulations… I wanted to tell you to get ready, but you’re screwed anyway,” Topria added.
Topria has become a legendary killer in the UFC, defeating Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway in his prime at featherweight before defeating Charles Oliveira for lightweight gold in early 2025.
Gaethje hopes to avoid becoming Topriya’s next tear as he bids to eventually become the undisputed champion in what appears to be his UFC swan song.
Meanwhile, Pimblett promised in the post-game interview “You haven’t seen the last of me,” said the man, who will now look to return to the title track after suffering his first loss in the UFC.