Pimblett one fight from title shot – Topuria

Former featherweight champion Ilia Topuria claims that Paddy Pimblett is “one fight away” from winning the title.

After capturing the biggest win of his career with a dominant victory over Michael Chandler in April, Pimblett is eighth in the lightweight UFC rankings.

Pimblett, 30, announced last month that he was considering a fight with Topuria or Justin Gaethje in Abu Dhabi in October.

Topuria will fight Pimblett if he defeats someone first at UFC 317 in Las Vegas on Saturday, when Charles Oliveira takes the lightweight belt from Brazil.

“Be prepared,” I can only say to him as my last word. You arrive on time, act in your best interests, receive payment, and then return home.

He is only a fight away from the title shot. So I’m going to whoop his underarms if he wins, of course.

After the two fought at a hotel before UFC London in 2022, Topuria and Pimblett have a history together.

Topuria, 28, won the featherweight title in February of last year after winning the first 16 of his 16 fights. He also had a remarkable 2024, when he defeated Alexander Volkanovski.

Topuria, who is Georgian, became Spain’s first UFC champion before President Pedro Sanchez granted him Spanish citizenship.

Topuria vacated the belt in April and moved up to lightweight after defeating another former champion in Max Holloway in October.

Topuria claims that the division’s impact on his physical health led to his decision to move up despite his success at featherweight.

I do indeed belong in this weight class. Topuria said, “I almost killed myself to make the 145lb (10th 3lb) division.”

I feel very at ease. In this weight division, I feel even stronger.

“And this is actually the first time I’ve been able to enjoy the entire process like the training, even the weight loss,” she said.

Islam Makhachev, the reigning champion, was given the title opportunity after it was revealed he would be stepping down from his belt to become welterweight.

Oliveira, the former champion, is second in the lightweight division and holds a number of promotion records, including the highest submissions and most finishes with 20.

Topuria may find himself in the same familiar position as fans who root against him because of the 35-year-old Oliveira’s popularity with the roster and Volkanovski and Holloway.

Because this is not personal, I can’t feel like the bad guy. Topuria said, “I don’t have anything personal against them.”