Ilia Topuria won Charles of the Bronx No. UFC 317. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram.
In the main fight UFC 317, held last Saturday (28), Ilia Topuria didn't give a chance to Charles of the Bronx and brutally knocked out the Brazilian in the first round. With the victory, the Spaniard won his second belt in the biggest MMA organization in the world and, while still in the octagon, he already indicated who he would like to face next: Paddy Pimblett.
At the press conference after the event, Topuria made it clear that he wants to face the British, revealing a personal motivation for the possible duel. He compared the situation to his fight against Charles, whom he respects and admires as a human being, which made that fight emotionally difficult. With Paddy, however, the feeling is the opposite.
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“This is the fight I want. Because with Charles, it was a tough situation. He’s a guy I like. He’s a great human being, you can’t hate him. You see him with his family and his friends and his team all the time… he’s an amazing person. But in the end, I thought, ‘This is a competition. I have to do my job and that’s it.’ But with Paddy, I’m really going to enjoy hurting him,” Topuria said.
Rivalry between Ilia Topuria and Paddy Pimblett is old
Paddy Pimblett e Ilia Topuria discussed at the press conference UFC 282 (Photo: Playback/YouTube)
The rivalry between Ilia Topuria e Paddy Pimblett It is not recent and began when the two were still competing in different weight classes. In 2022, the fighters had a disagreement in a hotel in London and almost came to blows. Now, with the Spaniard as lightweight champion, expectations are growing that they will finally face each other in the octagon.
In an interview with ESPN Deportes, before the UFC 317, Ilia Topuria declared that, if he could choose his next opponent, he would face the British. The reason, according to him, is simple: 'hatred' for his enemy.
“He (Pimblett) is a hypocrite. I remember we were at the same press conference once and he said he was fighting on the main card and I was fighting on the prelims. Now I’m thinking, I’ve got two belts, where are you? Who are you?” Paddy Pimblett Now? Honestly, if I could pick a fight, I would like to fight him because I hate him. He sucks. I would love to give this fight to the fans. I think it's been a long time since the UFC has seen a real fight. Two people who really want to fight each other. What better way to do that than in a fight in front of everyone, putting on a show? ", Topuria said.
Dana White criticizes improvised face-off between Ilia Topuria and Paddy Pimblett at UFC 317
Dana White is the president of the UFC / Reproduction Super Lutas
Shortly after knocking out Charles of the Bronx, Ilia Topuria starred in an unusual moment when calling Paddy Pimblett for a face-off inside the octagon, in a clear attempt to promote the possible next duel. The attitude inflamed the audience present at the T-Mobile Arena, but not everyone was pleased.
At the post-event press conference, UFC president Dana White criticized the improvised staredown, claiming that the action completely deviated from protocol. According to him, if he had been present at the cage, he would not have allowed the scene, classifying the episode as a mistake by the organization.
“I don’t know who the hell let him in there. This should have never happened. Let’s start there. I was already back in my room, (if I had been there) this would have never happened,” Dana White said.
Despite Dana White's disapproval of Paddy Pimblett to be the next title challenger, the Englishman emerges as a strong competitor, with seven wins and no losses in the UFC, the most recent of which was over Michael chandler. Other names mentioned in the dispute are Arman Tsarukyan, who was scheduled to replace the Topuria vs. Do Bronx fight, and Justin gaethje, who has already fought for the belt on two occasions, but ended up defeated on both occasions.
Watch the face-off between Ilia Topuria and Paddy Pimblett at UFC 317
IT'S GETTING HEATED #UFC317
Is Ilia Topuria vs Paddy Pimblett next?! pic.twitter.com/sWIEMbquQi
- UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) June 29, 2025
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