UFC star Topuria dares to beat Makhachev and Pimblett on the same night

Ilia Topuria is the new lightweight champion. Photo: Reproduction/UFC

Ilia Topuria didn't hold back in projecting his future in the division. The current UFC lightweight champion (up to 70,3kg) stated that, if it were up to him, he would have a 'perfect night' and would be able to beat Islam Makhachev and Paddy Pimblett on the same night.

"If it were up to me, next Saturday we'd have UFC in Spain. First against Makhachev, then against Paddy," Topuria teased in a press conference.

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The fight against Makhachev has not yet taken place, mainly due to strategic issues and weight differences. Islam, who moved up to welterweight while Topuria established himself at lightweight, saw no advantage in facing a rival still considered "inexperienced" for the belt.

The rivalry between Topuria and Pimblett is long-standing and intense, fueled by public taunts, exchanges of barbs on social media, and even a near-fight in a hotel during UFC London in 2022, when both were still just promising fighters in Dana White's company.

At UFC 317, after knocking out Charles Oliveira, the Georgian fighter provoked the Englishman with a face-off in the octagon that had to be interrupted by security and caused irritation in Dana White, president of the organization, who neither knew about nor had arranged the encounter between the fighters.