Paddy Pimblett targets Ilia Topuria for UFC title defense after beating Michael Chandler

Paddy Pimblett ’s never been short on confidence, but heading into UFC 314 , there’s a different edge to his voice. The Liverpool star is convinced this weekend marks the beginning of his title run—and he’s already eyeing who he wants for his first defense. It’s not the reigning champ or a legend. It’s Ilia Topuria , the undefeated Spanish-Georgian striker who just vacated his featherweight belt to move up. And Pimblett doesn’t just want to fight him—he wants to make it personal.

“He’s not saying he’ll win” — Paddy Pimblett questions Michael Chandler ’s confidence
Before he gets to Illa Topuria, Paddy Pimblett has to handle business against Michael Chandler in Miami. And while Chandler is known for chaos and highlight reels, Pimblett thinks that mindset will be his downfall.

“He comes out and tries to entertain,” Paddy said on the Full Send Podcast. “Obviously I love entertaining, it’s great, but first and foremost with fights we want to win the fight. It sounds bad to say but I’d rather have a boring fight and win it.”


From his perspective, Chandler’s energy masks insecurity. “I’m saying ‘You’re getting beat,’ and he’s saying ‘We’re gonna have a great fight,’” he added. “He’s not saying ‘I’m gonna win, I’m gonna win.’ He comes off very confident but at the same time I don’t think he is. I think he has at the back of his mind that he’s gonna lose.”

Pimblett’s not shy about what comes next. “I beat Michael Chandler, finish Michael Chandler in two [rounds], and then I gotta fight someone like Charles Oliveira in Abu Dhabi. Charles or Justin [Gaethje]. Dustin [Poirier] is gonna be retired by then. Or even Armen [Tsarukyan]... Once I beat them, fight for a title in 2026.”

And when he’s got the strap? That’s when Topuria can step up.

“No, I don’t want him to be champ,” Pimblett said. “I don’t want him to be champ at all. F—k that midget. I’d rather win the belt, then he can fight me for the title when I got it. And then I’ll have my first defense smashing his little teeth in.”

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“This is my time,” Pimblett declared. “I’ve got to come in and show everyone the old guard is fading out and the new guard’s coming through and I am one of the new guard.”

For all his flair and trash talk, one thing’s clear: Pimblett sees gold in his future—and Ilia Topuria standing across from him when he finally defends it.