Paddy Pimblett has strongly refuted assertions that he is undeserving of a UFC lightweight championship bout against his fierce rival, Ilia Topuria. Topuria, who recently captured the vacant lightweight title at UFC 317 by swiftly knocking out Charles Oliveira in the first round, had previously indicated a willingness to face Pimblett following a tense encounter between the two. Pimblett himself cemented his position as a title contender with a dominant third-round stoppage of Michael Chandler in April.
Pimblett voiced his frustration, stating, “It`s irritating when people claim I`m not deserving, especially when Islam Makhachev received a title shot after beating Bobby Green, a fighter I defeated even quicker.” He drew further comparisons, adding, “Charles Oliveira was granted another championship opportunity after a decision victory over Michael Chandler, a fight where Oliveira nearly lost. In contrast, I comprehensively beat Chandler over three rounds, a performance unmatched by others.”
He suggested a double standard, observing, “There seems to be a different perception when it comes to me; other fighters are readily given title shots.” Pimblett also challenged the notion of Justin Gaethje as a primary contender, pointing out, “Some are advocating for Gaethje, yet he only recently defeated an opponent ranked 11th or 12th, and is coming off a `knockout of the year` loss against Max Holloway.”
Ultimately, Pimblett concluded that while arguments could be made for various potential challengers, “the shared history between Ilia and myself positions our fight as the biggest one the UFC can possibly make, second only to a potential Topuria vs. Islam Makhachev clash, given they are arguably the top two pound-for-pound fighters.”
