Paddy Pimblett issues expletive-laden response to rival Ilia Topuria’s defeat by Justin Gaethje
Article excerpt
UFC lightweight Paddy Pimblett fired back at rival Ilia Topuria after Topuria's loss to Justin Gaethje, using sharp language to punctuate their ongoing feud. The two fighters have clashed since a 2022 altercation but have never actually stepped into the octagon together. Pimblett's expletive-heavy response marked the latest chapter in a rivalry that has simmered for years without materializing into a bout. Topuria's defeat apparently gave Pimblett an opening to take a dig at his antagonist, continuing their public back-and-forth.
Paddy Pimblett has issued a scathing response to Ilia Topuria’s defeat by Justin Gaethje, as the Liverpudlian’s rivalry with the Spanish-Georgian continues.
On Sunday, Topuria defended his lightweight title against Gaethje in the main event of the UFC’s remarkable White House event, with Gaethje pulling off a huge upset.
Topuria, 29, retired on his stool between the fourth and fifth rounds, as his American opponent, 37, unified the lightweight belts.
Paddy Pimblett cageside at UFC London in March (PA)
Gaethje had twice failed to win undisputed-title fights in the UFC, but he earned this third chance by outpointing Pimblett in January, dominating the Briton to become a two-time interim champion.
Despite the one-sided nature of Pimblett’s own loss to Gaethje, “Paddy The Baddy” was delighted by Topuria’s defeat, the first of his professional career. His rivalry with Topuria stems from an altercation in London in 2022, when “El Matador” confronted Pimblett over allegedly anti-Georgian tweets.
“Oh, my god, you quit, you little b***h,” Pimblett said on his YouTube channel. “Justin Gaethje, man, the ultimate spoiler. What did I tell you? I said he was gonna win, didn’t I?
“Oh, my God. Oh, my God. You quit like a little b***h. My face was worse than yours, you little p***y.
“Justin Gaethje, well in, lad. Undisputed champion, you deserve it after your career, but now I want that rematch. I am gonna finish BSD, and I want that rematch with Justin Gaethje for the undisputed title.”
Pimblett was referencing his upcoming fight with Benoit Saint-Denis, which is scheduled as the co-main event of Conor McGregor’s comeback against Max Holloway on 11 July.
“I told you, didn’t I? It was fate,” Pimblett continued. “Justin Gaethje, man, hats off to you, you deserve it for the f***ing heavy career you’ve had. You absolutely deserve it, lad.
Ilia Topuria (centre) after his stoppage loss to Justin Gaethje (Reuters)
“Everyone gave me s*** for getting beat by him. What now? What now, lad? Thought he was ‘finished’, thought he was ‘38’, thought he was ‘over the hill’, and then he’s just beat you, greatest fighter of all time, Ilia Topuria, you f***ing gang of gobs***e.
“I went five [rounds] with him. I took every f***ing shot that he threw at me and kept walking forward. This little b***h has just quit after four rounds, that’s what this little b***h has just done. Look at him sat on his stool. I kept f***ing walking forward at Gaethje for five rounds and didn’t have an ounce of quit in me.
“Arman [Tsarukyan] can fight Ilia now, they’ve been arguing for ages. Me vs Justin, let’s do it. No eye pokes, and we’ll see how the fight goes.”
Pimblett, 31, was referencing the fouls that Gaethje got away with in their January bout, although it was largely one-way traffic in Gaethje’s favour anyway.
Gaethje beat Pimblett in a one-sided fight in January (Getty)
In comparison, Topuria dropped Gaethje with a body shot in the second round of their fight, which was competitive in stretches. However, Gaethje dealt Topuria considerable damage in round one, and that damage almost led a doctor to force the end of the fight after round three. The doctor changed his mind after speaking to referee Marc Goddard, but Topuria retired after round four anyway.
“Justin, congratulations,” Topuria wrote on Instagram on Monday. “You said you’d leave your mark on my face… and you did. You took the sight from my right eye in the first round, and by the end of the second, from my left too.
“No excuses. I had one of the best camps of my life. I came in sharp, prepared, and ready. Last night was your night. That’s the nature of this game. Glory and pain walk side by side.
“I’ll heal. I’ll rest. And I’ll return stronger, wiser, and far more dangerous. And trust me… this story between us is far from over. We will have our rematch.”