Ilia Topuria told Paddy Pimblett he fumbled the payday of a lifetime in the immediate aftermath of his UFC 324 loss to Justin Gaethje.
Original plans called for Topuria (17-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) to defend his lightweight title against Pimblett (23-4 MMA, 7-1 UFC) on Saturday’s card in Las Vegas. However, the champ took a hiatus due to a personal issue, setting up and interim title bout between Gaethje (27-5 MMA, 10-5 UFC) and “The Baddy” at T-Mobile Arena.
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Gaethje earned a unanimous decision victory in the Fight of the Night, resulting in Pimblett’s first loss in the octagon and costing him a title unification grudge match with Topuria.
Topuria reminded Pimblett of that reality post-fight, while also sending a stern warning to Gaethje ahead of their expected showdown (via X):
Topuria has previously stated he is seeking a return to competition between April and June. UFC CEO Dana White also hinted at a similar timeframe after UFC 324, while Gaethje indicated he wants the unification bout to happen at UFC White House.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Ilia Topuria rips Paddy Pimblett, warns Justin Gaethje after UFC 324
