Sports

Paddy Pimblett hits again at claims that he’s ‘not deserving’ of a UFC light-weight title battle in opposition to bitter rival Ilia Topuria | WWE Information

Paddy Pimblett has hit again at claims that he’s “not deserving” of a UFC light-weight title battle in opposition to bitter rival Ilia Topuria.

The Spaniard welcomed a battle in opposition to Pimblett as that they had a heated face to face after Topuria claimed the vacant belt at UFC 317 with a first-round knockout of Charles Oliveira earlier this month.

Pimblett propelled himself into title rivalry with a third-round stoppage of Michael Chandler in April.

“It annoys me when individuals say I am not deserving when Islam [Makhachev] obtained a title after beating Bobby Inexperienced, and I beat him sooner,” he mentioned.

“[Charles] Oliveira simply obtained one other title shot off beating [Michael] Chandler who he went to resolution with and practically obtained completed with, after I beat Chandler up for 3 rounds and beat him like nobody has earlier than.

Michael Chandler, left, and Paddy Pimblett battle during a mixed martial arts fight at UFC 314, Sunday, April 13, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Picture:
Michael Chandler, left, and Paddy Pimblett battle throughout a combined martial arts battle at UFC 314, Sunday, April 13, 2025, in Miami. (AP Picture/Lynne Sladky)

“Individuals simply have a special opinion when it is me, whereas these others fighters it is alright, they provide them a title shot.

“Individuals are saying [Justin] Gaethje when Gaethje has simply overwhelmed rank 11 or 12 and coming again off the knock out of the 12 months in opposition to [Max] Holloway in a battle he misplaced.

“You may in all probability make arguments for a number of individuals however the truth that me and Ilia have gotten historical past I feel, aside from Ilia and Islam who’re pound for pound primary and two, me versus Ilia is the most important battle the UFC could make.”

Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant

New UFC light-weight champion Ilia Topuria reveals why he desires to battle Paddy Pimblett subsequent.

The pair’s heated feud stems again to 2022 when Pimblett made feedback on-line, resulting in a bodily altercation on the fighter lodge in London throughout the UFC Combat Evening 204 in March that 12 months.

‘Should you’re prepared, I am right here’ – what occurred at UFC 317?

After Topuria had scored a shocking first-round knockout victory over Oliveira to assert the UFC light-weight title at UFC 317 final month, Pimblett was summoned to the ring from watching on within the viewers, the place a heated change led to Topuria shoving the eighth-ranked contender and igniting a rivalry from years in the past.

“Let’s battle! Should you’re prepared, I am right here,” Topuria mentioned to Pimblett earlier than he entered the ring.

Paddy Pimblett reacts after defeating Michael Chandler during a mixed martial arts fight at UFC 314, Sunday, April 13, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Picture:
Paddy Pimblett reacts after defeating Michael Chandler throughout a combined martial arts battle at UFC 314 in April

Former featherweight champ Topuria had introduced in February that he was going to step as much as the 155-pound division to battle for the belt vacated by former champ Makhachev’s transfer as much as the welterweight division.

Oliveira, who was stripped of the light-weight belt in Might 2022 when he missed the burden for a defence in opposition to Justin Gaethje, regarded good throughout a short change on the mat, however Topuria disengaged to convey the battle again to the ft, and shortly afterwards Oliveira’s night ended.

The 28-year-old shocked Oliveira with a proper hook and adopted it up with a crunching left that despatched Oliveira crashing to the mat, his eyes glazed as his again hit the canvas as Topuria fulfilled his pre-fight prediction of a first-round knockout win.

“I already mentioned it – I symbolize the brand new technology of the combination of martial arts, that is the following degree of the sport. That is the following factor, and that is what I symbolize,” Topuria mentioned in a post-fight interview. “I did precisely what we had deliberate, lot of jabs, proper hand, left hook, and increase – his lights had been out.”

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *