Ilia Topuria is on top of the MMA world right now. The Spanish-Georgian star is the reigning UFC Lightweight Champion, and he previously became one of only ten fighters in UFC history to hold belts in two weight classes after capturing the featherweight title with a knockout win over Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298. His meteoric rise, undefeated record, and violent finishing ability have made him one of the promotion’s most exciting fighters.

But if you ask Paddy Pimblett, Topuria’s run to the belt isn’t nearly as impressive as the UFC hype machine would have you believe. The outspoken Liverpudlian, who has long had bad blood with Topuria, recently threw shade on the champion’s résumé, claiming that he took the easiest possible path to UFC gold.

Pimblett: “Topuria Had the Easiest Road to the Belt”

In an interview with EldoberdanMMA, Pimblett made his opinion clear: Topuria’s road to the championship was paved with favorable matchups and perfect timing rather than sheer dominance over elite opposition.

“I think Ilia had the easiest road to the belt,” Pimblett said. “He had to beat Josh Emmett to get a title shot. Who did he beat? Ryan Hall, Josh Emmett, Bryce Mitchell… That was one of the easiest routes I’ve ever seen to a title shot.”

Pimblett went on to suggest that Michael Chandler, the fighter he most recently defeated at UFC 314, would have dominated Topuria’s path to the belt with relative ease. “Michael Chandler would beat all of the people he fought before he fought Volk [Alexander Volkanovski],” Pimblett claimed.

The Liverpudlian even downplayed Topuria’s historic win over Volkanovski by pointing to the Australian’s health and timing. “And he wouldn’t have beat Volk, if Volk wasn’t knocked out like eight weeks earlier, twelve weeks earlier,” Pimblett said.

Topuria won the featherweight crown by knocking out Volkanovski four months after the champion had been brutally stopped by Islam Makhachev at UFC 294 in 2023. For Pimblett, that was less of a passing-of-the-torch moment and more of a fortunate alignment of circumstances.

“Everything’s happened at the right time for Topuria apart from when he fights me,” Pimblett added. “If I didn’t have to have these little times off, these intervals, and I had the easy route to the belt like he did, I would have been champion by now.”

The Longstanding Rivalry Between Pimblett and Topuria

The bad blood between Pimblett and Topuria goes back several years. The two have exchanged trash talk, heated social media digs, and even a backstage altercation. Their rivalry has simmered while both men climbed the ranks in different weight classes, but now it seems destined to boil over into a fight for UFC gold.

Topuria (16-0) has looked unstoppable so far, racking up wins over elite competition with highlight-reel knockouts and slick submissions. His destruction of Josh Emmett in a five-round main event cemented him as the top contender at featherweight before he dethroned Volkanovski.

Pimblett (7-0 UFC) has been equally successful in terms of results, but his strength of schedule has drawn criticism. His early UFC wins came against unranked fighters such as Luigi Vendramini, Rodrigo Vargas, and Jordan Leavitt. He’s since added higher-profile names like Jared Gordon, Tony Ferguson, and King Green to his record, but critics note that those opponents were either on losing streaks or past their prime.

Still, Pimblett’s TKO victory over Chandler at UFC 314 was a major breakthrough moment, pushing him into the lightweight title conversation and setting the stage for a potential grudge match with Topuria.

Comparing Resumés: Pimblett vs. Topuria

A look at the numbers shows why Pimblett’s critique is controversial.

• Ilia Topuria went 6-0 in the UFC before his title shot, with wins over Ryan Hall, Damon Jackson, Bryce Mitchell, and Josh Emmett. He then knocked out Volkanovski to capture the featherweight title and later moved up to 155 lbs, where he became a two-division champion.

• Paddy Pimblett is currently 7-0 in the UFC lightweight division, with wins over Chandler, Ferguson, Gordon, Leavitt, Vargas, and Vendramini. However, his last three opponents are on a combined 13-fight losing skid, and two of his first UFC opponents are no longer in the promotion.

In terms of strength of schedule, most analysts agree that Topuria has faced and defeated higher-caliber competition than Pimblett. Still, Pimblett’s popularity, charisma, and recent momentum make him a legitimate threat to leapfrog other contenders in the title picture.

What’s Next for the Lightweight Division?

The lightweight division is currently stacked with contenders like Arman Tsarukyan, Mateusz Gamrot, and Charles Oliveira all vying for a shot at Topuria’s belt. However, the UFC has always valued big rivalries and marketable matchups, and Pimblett vs. Topuria checks both boxes.

For Topuria, a fight against Pimblett would provide an opportunity to silence a longtime critic and continue to build his legacy. For Pimblett, it would be a chance to prove that his star power isn’t just hype and that he can back up his words by dethroning one of the most feared champions in recent memory.

Conclusion

Paddy Pimblett’s latest comments add fuel to the fire of his bitter rivalry with Ilia Topuria. By labeling Topuria’s rise as the “easiest road to the belt,” Pimblett is both dismissing the champion’s accomplishments and positioning himself as the true test for the Spaniard’s reign.

Whether fans agree with Pimblett’s take or not, one thing is clear: a fight between him and Topuria would be one of the biggest grudge matches the UFC could book. With Pimblett riding high off his victory over Michael Chandler and Topuria seeking to cement his dominance at lightweight, the stars may finally align for the showdown fans have been waiting years to see.