Ilia Topuria, set to headline UFC 317, has stated he is not eager to face Paddy Pimblett immediately, even if he emerges victorious this weekend.
The former UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria might find himself on a collision course with one of his long-standing adversaries should he claim the vacant lightweight championship this weekend at UFC 317.
Topuria and former UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira are headlining a significant event this Saturday in Las Vegas. They will compete for the lightweight title, which became vacant last month after Islam Makhachev, the UFC`s pound-for-pound king, announced plans to move up to welterweight.
In the interim, the highly anticipated fight between Topuria and his longtime foe Paddy Pimblett seems like a potential matchup if Topuria is successful this weekend. However, surprisingly, Topuria appears to be in no hurry to make the bout with Pimblett happen.
Ilia Topuria Suggests a Path for Paddy Pimblett, Warning Against One Fight He Believes Pimblett Would Lose
Pimblett entered the conversation for a title shot after finishing Michael Chandler at UFC 315 earlier this year. While Topuria was not impressed by Pimblett`s performance, he expressed enthusiasm at the prospect of their fight making sense in the Octagon.
Topuria and Pimblett have shared animosity for years, stemming from a physical altercation at a fighter hotel in London back in 2022. Pimblett recently hinted at potentially disrupting UFC 317 by knocking out Topuria if their paths crossed.
While Topuria isn`t rushing to grant Pimblett a title shot if he wins the belt this weekend, he proposed a high-profile opponent for the UK fighter to defeat in order to strengthen his case.
During his UFC 317 media day press conference, Topuria was asked about the route Pimblett could take to earn a lightweight title shot and a potential future meeting between the two rivals.
“If he wants to guarantee his title shot, he needs to fight Justin Gaethje. Because if he fights Arman, I believe Arman will beat him,” Topuria stated.
“So, stylistically, the easiest route for him to get the title shot is through Justin.”
Arman Tsarukyan is set to serve as the backup fighter for the Topuria vs. Oliveira main event at UFC 317 this week. Tsarukyan was originally scheduled to face Makhachev earlier this year at UFC 311 but withdrew on short notice due to a back injury.
Pimblett currently holds an undefeated record in his UFC tenure with victories over opponents like Jared Gordon, Bobby Green, and Tony Ferguson. Meanwhile, Justin Gaethje has suggested he might consider retirement if he doesn`t receive the next lightweight title opportunity.
Ilia Topuria`s Potential Victory Could Draw Islam Makhachev Back to Lightweight After UFC 317
Although a fight between Topuria and Makhachev is not currently planned, it remains a possibility, especially as Makhachev prepares for his welterweight title challenge. Makhachev is anticipated to face Jack Della Maddalena later this year as he aims for champion status in a second weight class.
However, Makhachev has not entirely ruled out returning to the lightweight division, provided the price and opponent are right. Topuria`s potential pay-per-view drawing power could provide the necessary motivation for Makhachev to move back down to 155 lbs.
For now, Topuria has the opportunity to inaugurate a new era in the UFC`s lightweight division at UFC 317. It wouldn`t be surprising if Makhachev becomes Topuria`s target callout should he secure a win this weekend.
