As the rivalry between Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria continues to heat up, another conflict is brewing in the UFC—this time between ‘El Matador’ and Paddy Pimblett. Their bad blood isn’t new, dating back to UFC’s London event in December 2022, when the two nearly came to blows in a hotel lobby. Although officials calmed tensions then, their feud has reignited repeatedly. Lately, the Georgian-Spaniard has been vocal about his desire to move up to lightweight and challenge the Dagestani native for a second championship strap.

Initially brushing off the idea, Makhachev has now responded with a challenge of his own. The Dagestani juggernaut spoke to Match TV and made his stance known: “I’m not going to give him a shot right away because he hasn’t done all the work he was supposed to in his weight class. There are still contenders he needs to beat, but he doesn’t want to cut weight anymore. Let him move up and earn his shot, and we’ll definitely fight.”

This statement has not only escalated the tensions between the Georgian-Spaniard and the Dagestani but has also opened doors for a potential rivalry seeing itself settled inside the Octagon. Currently ranked #12 in the lightweight division, Pimblett remains unconvinced that Topuria has done enough to warrant an immediate shot at the 155-pound title.

Offering a blunt take on the situation, ‘The Baddy’ questioned the 145lbs champ’s rapid rise to the top, arguing that he “got there faster than usual” after securing wins over Bryce Mitchell and Josh Emmett before being granted a title opportunity. Speaking to Eldorberdan MMA, Paddy Pimblett didn’t hold back as he issued a challenge to Ilia Topuria.

He stated, “Ilia is a midget on the main stage. People don’t understand how much bigger I am than Ilia. On a bike, I am so much bigger than him—people don’t realize. I’d love to do a staredown with him just so everyone could see how much bigger I actually am… Now he’s talking about moving up to lightweight when he’s only had one title defense. I think you need to defend the belt at least three times before fighting for a belt in the division above. But if he wants to come to lightweight, I’m here.”

Meanwhile, Pimblett and Ilia Topuria, two rising stars of the UFC’s new generation, entered the promotion just a year apart— ‘El Matador’ in 2020 and Pimblett in 2021—following impressive runs on the regional circuit. Now, in 2025, Topuria has firmly established himself as the featherweight champion.

At the same time, the Englishman continues his undefeated streak in the highly competitive UFC’s 155lbs division, steadily working his way into the top 10. Moreover, Pimblett not only rejected the Georgian-Spaniard’s claim to a lightweight title shot but also questioned his star power, arguing that comparisons to Conor McGregor are exaggerated. Let’s dive deeper.

Paddy Pimblett questions Ilia Topuria’s star power in comparison to Conor McGregor

As Ilia Topuria continues his meteoric rise in the featherweight division, many fans see shades of Conor McGregor in his journey. Like the Irishman, ‘El Matador’ burst onto the UFC scene with a dominant run at 145 pounds, drawing comparisons not only for his fighting style but also for his tattoos and overall persona. Even prominent figures like Kamaru Usman, Chael Sonnen, and UFC boss Dana White have suggested that Topuria could be the sport’s next megastar.

Following in McGregor’s footsteps, the Georgian-Spaniard is now considering a move to lightweight after just one title defense—similar to how McGregor jumped straight into a 155-pound title fight against Eddie Alvarez without ever defending his featherweight belt. However, Paddy Pimblett isn’t convinced that the UFC will offer Ilia Topuria the same fast track.

Speaking to Blood Red: The Liverpool FC Podcast, ‘The Baddy’ challenged Topuria’s aspirations, stating, “I can’t see Ilia fighting Islam. He’s only defended the belt once—normally, you need to defend the belt at least three times. And he’s not that big of a star to just jump straight in. He is not [Conor] McGregor, who could just move up and fight for another belt, so I can’t personally see that happening. But we’ll see what happens.”

At the same time, the 155lbs champ has hinted at moving up to a higher weight class. With 4 successful title defenses under his belt, Makhachev’s reign at lightweight has been nothing short of dominant. This begs the question—will fans ever get to see a highly anticipated clash between Ilia Topuria and Islam Makhachev? Share your thoughts below!