Ilia Topuria added another devastating finish to his resume at UFC 317, knocking out Charles Oliveira in the first round and cementing his place as the new undisputed lightweight world champion. As expected, the win triggered immediate buzz about his next opponent, but what truly stole headlines was the face-off that followed.
Moments after Topuria’s highlight-reel KO, Paddy Pimblett stepped into the Octagon uninvited, setting up a heated post-fight confrontation. The Liverpudlian exchanged a few words with the champ before getting shoved, all while flashing a grin. Cameras caught every second, and fans instantly began speculating about a potential Topuria vs. Pimblett clash.
Oddsmakers didn’t waste time. They already have Ilia Topuria listed as a -500 favorite, a clear nod to his dominance over the division’s best. After all, the undefeated Spanish-Georgian has taken out Alexander Volkanovski, Max Holloway, and now Oliveira in three consecutive bouts. Still, Pimblett believes the betting odds and Topuria’s confidence could work against him.
“He’s a very good all-round fighter, I respect him as a fighter, and he doesn’t respect me,” Pimblett said during an appearance on Verse Us with Eric Nicksick. “I genuinely think if he fought me, he wouldn’t train as hard. He just thinks he’d beat me. But I’d kick him everywhere.”
The moment quickly went viral, but behind the scenes, not everyone was thrilled. UFC CEO Dana White confirmed he didn’t approve the Topuria vs. Pimblett face-off, contrasting it with the sanctioned Pantoja vs. Van co-main event moment.
Joe Rogan appeared to misinterpret Topuria’s comments in the post-fight interview, thinking he was calling out Pimblett when the champ had actually mentioned Arman Tsarukyan as a more likely challenger. The UFC commentator’s confusion led to Pimblett being brought into the cage, sparking the push that fans can’t stop replaying.
Ilia Topuria later clarified his position in the post-fight press conference and in a follow-up interview.
“That’s the fight that I think everyone wants to see,” Topuria told About Last Fight. “Maybe that’s not the fight that I’m gonna get in my next fight.”
Despite the tension and fan interest, Ilia Topuria knows the Pimblett bout isn’t guaranteed. UFC brass has its own direction in mind, with names like Tsarukyan and Justin Gaethje also in the mix. Still, the champ made it clear, he wants that fight. Whether or not it happens next, Ilia Topuria continues to prove why he’s one of the most dangerous men in the sport.
