Paddy Pimblett claims Ilia Topuria has been presented a bout agreement to defend his UFC lightweight title, but is dragging his feet.
Pimblett (23-3 MMA, 7-0 UFC) has been pushing for a shot against Topuria (17-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) since he entered the octagon for an in-cage faceoff with the 155-pound champ following a knockout of Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 in June.
Although Topuria has said he wants to hurt “The Baddy” and Pimblett is whom he wants next, UFC CEO Dana White recently said nothing has been decided in terms of what’s next in that division.
Pimblett continues to drop hints that he’s the man on deck, and Friday reiterated that he’s waiting for Topuria to confirm his side of the deal.
“Just want to get a fight signed, man,” Pimblett said on his YouTube channel. “All Ilia has done is talk sh*t about me saying I’m sh*t, saying I don’t deserve to fight him. After his last fight, we got in the cage and he pushed me.
“I think it’s happening, and now he’s stalling. He’s not saying yes to the fight. He’s stalling. If I’m that sh*t, lad, why don’t you take an easy fight and just beat me then? Step up. As (Mike) Tyson said, ‘Sign the contract, big boy.'”
Pimblett hasn’t competed since UFC 314 in April when he scored a second-round TKO of Michael Chandler to remain undefeated under the UFC banner.
The Brith has been feuding with Topuria for several years, going back to a physical confrontation in a hotel ahead of a UFC London event in which Pimblett threw a bottle of hand sanitizer at “El Matador.”
Pimblett did not mention a proposed date or event for the potential matchup with Topuria.
