While a good chunk of the MMA world was not happy to see the UFC book Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett for an interim lightweight title fight, Ilia Topuria – the champion of the division – is all on board.
Topuria (17-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) recently revealed that he wasn’t going to be fighting in the first trimester of 2026 due to personal issues, prompting the UFC to implement an interim belt in the division. What rubbed many the wrong way wasn’t necessarily the interim title, but that No. 1-ranked contender Arman Tsarukyan was passed over by Pimblett (23-3 MMA, 7-0 UFC) and Gaethje (26-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC).
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“La Leyenda” didn’t mind this pairing, and think it’s a deserving bout for the interim belt.
“I had a conversation prior to the announcement, I knew everything that was going on,” Topuria told ESPN Deportes. in Spanish. “We had several conversations. Due to my personal situation, they knew I couldn’t compete in January, everything I’m going through personally. In the end, they decided to make an interim title fight between Paddy Pimblett and Justin Gaethje. I find it very deserving for both. It’s a title, very deserving for both, but that’s the closest they will ever be to getting a world title. I congratulate them, but at some point, they’re going to have to face the real deal.”
Topuria, who’s had a long-standing beef with Pimblett due to some controversial geopolitical comments from the Englishman, has a tough time predicting the matchup that will determine his next challenger. He does hope it’s Pimblett in the end, but doesn’t think it would be the end of the world if Gaethje spoils those plans.
“I do have my doubts, I can’t give you an exact prediction, but I do think it can be Paddy Pimblett, and I would love it to be Paddy because it’s something I would like,” Topuria said. “I would like it because I think it would be a very exciting fight for everyone. But even if Justin Gaethje wins, I think the story would still be big, and you could build something even bigger than with Paddy Pimblett. I always accept God’s will, and anything that happens is always for the best.”
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Ilia Topuria: Gaethje-Pimblett ‘very deserving’ interim title fight
