Paddy Pimblett is still waiting for the call that will define his next move at lightweight, but he has made two things clear: he remains interested in a fight with Ilia Topuria, and he is not limiting himself to one name. Pimblett addressed the situation while in Dublin, Ireland, where speculation about a possible Topuria bout had circulated. His answer was direct. He said no one had spoken to him about the matchup, meaning there is no announced opponent attached to his next appearance.
That uncertainty does not leave Pimblett short of meaningful options. His 2026 campaign has already contained a major setback and a sharp response. He lost to Justin Gaethje in an interim lightweight title fight at UFC 324, then rebounded at UFC 329 by submitting Benoit Saint Denis with a Peruvian necktie in 52 seconds. The quick finish affirmed Pimblett’s place in the top 10 and put him back in position for a marquee contest. For now, the news is not that a particular fight has been signed; it is that Pimblett is publicly available for the division’s leading names while awaiting official word.
Pimblett says Topuria fight is not announced
Pimblett’s long-running issue with Topuria remains part of the conversation. The two fighters have feuded for years and have been involved in multiple close-quarters altercations outside the cage. Asked whether he still wanted that grudge match, Pimblett said, “I’d love to smash his head in, but we need to wait and see.” The comment underlined his interest without changing the central fact: there has been no approach to him about the bout.
Pimblett reinforced that point with a second answer that was more procedural than promotional. “Nothing yet,” he said. “No one spoke to me about it, so we’ll see what happens.” That distinction matters because it separates Pimblett’s willingness to face Topuria from an actual booking. He is not presenting the fight as settled, and readers should not treat the ongoing discussion as an official announcement. Pimblett also said that, if he fights again this year, he hopes it will be in December, though he again qualified that hope by saying they will see what happens. His next step therefore remains open rather than scheduled.
A crowded route back toward a title chance
If Topuria is not the opponent, Pimblett has identified several names he sees as viable. He named Arman Tsarukyan, Gaethje, Mauricio Ruffy and Charles Oliveira when discussing the available field. The list shows that Pimblett is looking upward rather than toward a lower-profile assignment. He has specifically said he wants a top-five opponent and another title opportunity. The wider lightweight picture gives that position context. Gaethje is coming off an undisputed lightweight championship victory and is expected to fight again in 2027. Meanwhile, No. 1 contender Tsarukyan is scheduled to face Ruffy at UFC 331 in a potential title eliminator, while Oliveira and Max Holloway remain in the mix. Those Key developments do not determine Pimblett’s next opponent, but they explain why he is keeping several possibilities open instead of attaching his plans solely to Topuria. Pimblett’s own recent sequence is important in that calculation. The Gaethje loss ended his interim-title bid, but the Saint Denis submission produced an immediate, emphatic response. A 52-second finish is the kind of result that keeps a fighter visible in a division with several established contenders and pending high-stakes matchups. Pimblett’s top-10 position has been affirmed, while his stated target is the top five.
- Pimblett has not been told that he will fight Ilia Topuria, despite continued discussion of the matchup.
- Pimblett says he is open to leading lightweight names and wants a top-five opponent to pursue another title opportunity.
| Nyckelutveckling | What it means for Pimblett |
|---|---|
| Lost to Justin Gaethje at UFC 324 in an interim lightweight title fight | His 2026 campaign began with a title-fight setback. |
| Submitted Benoit Saint Denis with a Peruvian necktie in 52 seconds at UFC 329 | The rebound win affirmed his top-10 standing and renewed his case for a marquee matchup. |
| Said no one has spoken to him about fighting Ilia Topuria | The proposed grudge match remains unconfirmed rather than officially booked. |
Paddy Pimblett gave a straightforward update: he wants the Topuria fight, but he has not received an offer for it. Until that changes, his focus is broader than one rivalry. With a rapid submission win behind him, a confirmed top-10 place, and several prominent lightweights in play, Pimblett is waiting for the UFC to identify the opponent who will shape his next push toward a title opportunity.
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