“I Don’t Think He’s Got the Balls”: Paddy Pimblett Says Ilia Topuria Is Scared of TUF
Paddy Pimblett believes Ilia Topuria is afraid of the mental warfare if they coach on The Ultimate Fighter.
The British star is targeting the UFC lightweight title and wants to face his arch-nemesis, Ilia Topuria, who is coming off a loss to Justin Gaethje in June.
Pimblett is also interested in coaching against Topuria on an upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter if their fight does not happen anytime soon. However, he believes the Spaniard will refuse the opportunity.
Paddy Pimblett Warns Ilia Topuria of Mental Warfare
Paddy Pimblett has a long-running feud with Ilia Topuria, which started with exchanges on social media. The feud got so heated that the pair indulged in a backstage altercation during a UFC London event. Now, Pimblett wants to settle it inside the cage or on TUF.
“Yeah, I'd love to do The Ultimate Fighter. I think it'd be hilarious. I'd have his head in the shed for like six weeks. He wouldn't know where to look or what to do when I'm with him. Just like me and him and our teams in like the apex. I'd have his head shock a lot. It would be hilarious,” Pimblett said in an interview with All Out Fighting.
Pimblett has pitched the idea publicly several times. Even UFC president Dana White reacted positively to it. However, Topuria hasn’t had a say on it, and Pimblett believes he will never accept the offer.
“No, I don't think he'll do it for that reason. I think he'll be scared to do it because he knows that'll get on his head that bad that he wouldn't be able to focus on the fight cuz I'd be winding him up that much. I don't think he'll accept it. I'd love him to, but I just don't think he's got the balls,” Pimblett added.
Pimblett Says Topuria Will Never Be the Same After Gaethje Loss
Ilia Topuria was undefeated in 17 professional fights and nine UFC appearances before facing Justin Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250. Gaethje battered him to the point that Topuria’s corner stopped the fight in the fourth round.
This was the Spaniard’s first professional loss, and Pimblett believes it will change a lot for him.
According to Pimblett (24-4), suffering a loss early in a career can teach fighters to learn from the experience, grow, and rebuild. In fact, Pimblett described his own loss to Gaethje as “just growth.”
However, Pimblett believes the defeat will affect the 29-year-old Spaniard more deeply and make it harder for him to bounce back because it came later in his career. Pimblett labelled Topuria “damaged goods” and regretted not beating him first.
