Paddy Pimblett’s post-fight comments following his victory over Michael Chandler at UFC 314 have sparked a wave of reactions from fans, particularly regarding his omission of Ilia Topuria from his list of potential opponents. While Pimblett claimed he simply “forgot” about Topuria, fans on social media have been quick to share their thoughts, with many doubting the sincerity of his explanation.
Fans React to Paddy Pimblett Forgetting Ilia Topuria
Paddy Pimblett referred to Ilia Topuria as “irrelevant” during the press conference, adding, “I’m ranked higher than he is at lightweight, so I’d love to welcome him to 155.” However, this dismissal has not sat well with fans, especially given the heated history between the two fighters. Their rivalry dates back to a 2022 altercation in a London hotel and has been fueled by verbal exchanges and personal insults over the years.
Fans have taken to social media with mixed reactions:
“Be careful. Ilia would send bro to a dark place at lightweight.”
“Topuria would maul bro in any form of fighting—wrestling, striking, grappling, etc.”
“After watching his fight last night, the Topuria fight doesn’t seem so one-sided anymore.”
“He did NOT forget about him; he’s just avoiding him.”
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Some supporters defended Paddy Pimblett, questioning the criticism: “I don’t understand the hate on Paddy?” However, others remained skeptical of his chances against Topuria: “Topuria kills Paddy still lol.”
The rivalry between Pimblett and Topuria has always been contentious. Topuria has previously criticized Pimblett for being “disrespectful” and accused him of making insensitive remarks about the Russo-Georgian war. Despite their animosity, many fans believe a fight between the two would be inevitable now that Topuria has vacated his featherweight title and moved up to lightweight.
While Paddy Pimblett’s victory over Michael Chandler solidified his position in the lightweight top ten, fans are eager to see if he will eventually face Ilia Topuria in what could be one of the division’s most anticipated grudge matches.
