Paddy Pimblett would love the opportunity to welcome Ilia Topuria to the lightweight division.
Topuria had a sensational 2024, winning Fighter of the Year honors for his knockout wins over all-time greats Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway. In fact, Topuria’s year was so impressive that despite only having one title defense to his name, the featherweight champion is already angling for a move up to 155 pounds, even targeting a fight with former champion Charles Oliveira if he can’t get a title fight against Islam Makhachev immediately. But Pimblett believes that’s a little too soon.
“Ilia’s a midget,” Pimblett told Daniel Cortes. “People don’t understand how much bigger I am than Ilia. I’m so much…