Ilia Topuria’s lightweight future questioned by Paddy Pimblett

Paddy
Pimblett believes Ilia
Topuria is just too small a lightweight.

Topuria (17-1) won and defended the featherweight title once before
moving up to lightweight. Topuria was a massive favorite when he
put his lightweight title on the line against Justin
Gaethje (28-5) at
UFC Freedom 250 last month.

However, Gaethje battered Topuria and bloodied him up, forcing his
corner to throw the towel after four rounds.

The Ilia Topuria lightweight debate

Pimblett (23-4) had originally been eyeing a title shot against
Topuria. However, Gaethje defeated “The Baddy” to win the interim
title earlier this month. Pimblett believes he would send Topuria
back to featherweight if they were to fight now. The Liverpudlian
notes that there are weight classes for a reason. Pimblett also
believes it was Gaethje’s destiny to beat him and win the title
against Topuria as an American at the White House.

“I always say we have weight classes for a reason,” Pimblett told
Spinnin Backfist. “Ilia Topuria is a fat featherweight. He’s not a
lightweight. And if I ever fight him, people will realize that. If
he fights me, he will move back down to 145 [pounds]. Because he
will realize how small he is for [lightweight]… I’ve got no
animosity towards Justin Gaethje. He beat me; better man won on the
night. I think it was fate for him to beat me, so that he could
beat Ilia on the White House lawn. Be the American in the main
event to win a world title. It was destiny.”

Pimblett will look to return to the win column when he faces
Benoit St.
Denis (17-3) at UFC 329
on July 11 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. St. Denis is currently
on a four-fight finishing streak.