UFC featherweight Ilia Topuria does not like Paddy “The Baddy” Pimblett. The pair have had several run-ins over their last few fights, as the UFC seems to insist on booking the pair for the same cards. Despite that, the promotion has shown no signs of matching the two rivals up, and Topuria appeared on The MMA Hour to accuse the UFC of “protecting’ Pimblett from him.
“Maybe yes, maybe no. But at the same time, I feel like the UFC’s protecting him me. I don’t know why. In reality, that’s the fight to make right now, because it’s one of the biggest fights in the UFC. We can perfectly sell a pay-per-view. That fight makes more excitement for people than [many] championship fights.”
Ilia Topuria Believes the UFC is “Protecting” Paddy The Baddy From Him
Topuria already called Pimblett a “mongrel” once before, and demanded that Topuria “speak English”. “He already crossed the line, so right now, what he’s saying, I don’t care.
The people think that he’s the best from Europe. I’m from Europe. So let’s fight for the European crown. I know what’s going to happen. I know that I’m going to put him to sleep in the first round. Everyone knows that. That’s why they are [keeping him away] from me.
If it’s against Paddy, the money’s right – because I have to go in his home and fight against the whole crowd. It’s very tough when you walk inside the cage and the crowd is against you. I would love to make that fight happen in Spain.”
Topuria also admitted that moving up a weight class from featherweight to fight Pimblett, a lightweight, would pose a further issue.
“In reality, I would love to focus on my weight class. I would love to face Brian Ortega. He never turned down the fight, so now I want my managers to make an offer to his team. I know he has injury now to his shoulder, so we’re going to ask him how much time he needs to get healthy. I think that he’s a warrior and he’s going to accept the fight.”
Ultimately, Topuria is confident that “The Baddy” won’t pose much of a threat.
“I know that I’m going to knock him out. I’m way better than him everywhere. So right now, you have a fight against Paddy against who cares, I don’t think people are very excited about watching him fight. Because he talks well, he’s a great promoter, but as a fighter, he sucks. Right now, I’m the guy. Everyone wants to watch me fight. You put me against anyone, they’re going to watch.
In reality, [the UFC] never made an official offer to Paddy to fight against me. I don’t think he’s going to turn down the fight. Maybe yes, I don’t know, but the UFC didn’t want the fight, yet. I know that one day it’s going to happen.”
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