Paddy Pimblett is eyeing a return to the Octagon in March or April of 2027, and he’s got one name on his mind for his next opponent: Ilia Topuria. After a wild year, “The Baddy” seems laser-focused on a showdown that could absolutely blow the roof off, even if a title isn’t on the line.
The Baddy’s 2026 Journey and Why January Is a No-Go
What a year it’s been for the UFC, wrapping up 2026 with some massive fights. We’ve got UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi with Volkanovski vs. Evloev, then the heavyweight title fight at Madison Square Garden for UFC 334 with Gane and Hokit. To cap it all off, Oliveira and Lopes are going to battle for the BMF title at UFC 335 in Vegas. MMA fans are eating good, no doubt. But for us “Baddy” faithful, the big question has been: when’s Paddy coming back?
Pimblett kicked off 2026 headlining UFC 324 in January, where he faced Justin Gaethje for the interim lightweight title and took a loss. But he bounced back strong at UFC 329, submitting Benoit Saint Denis in the first round. Now, after that dominant win, Pimblett is ready for another top contender. Speaking with All Out Fighting on YouTube, he laid out his ideal timeline for his return, saying, “I don’t know what’s happening at the minute. We’ll have to wait and see. Everyone in my division could be booked up. I’m never fighting in January again. If we don’t fight before the end of the year, it’ll be March or April.” His reason for skipping January? He doesn’t want to be in training camp during the holidays. Can you blame him?
Why It’s Topuria or Bust For Paddy
So, if it’s not January, and he’s looking at March or April, who’s left for Pimblett? He broke it down perfectly. “It looks like Arman is fighting Justin. Then there are only Ilia and Max ranked above me. I think Max is waiting for Conor. So it’s only Ilia left.” It’s clear as day for Pimblett: Topuria is the only fight that makes sense. And he’s got a strong take on why Topuria might not be the same fighter we’ve seen before.
Pimblett said, “I don’t think Ilia ever gonna be the same. I lost my first fight when I was 18 and I had to build myself back up. He’s never lost before, and he’s about 27 or something. His whole aura was about being unbeatable and all that. Now he’s been beaten, and that’s in his head. I will prove it if I’ll end up fighting him next.” Topuria’s loss to Gaethje was brutal, with his face taking some serious damage. If this fight happens in March, Topuria will have had nine months to recover, and he’ll need every single one of them to be 100% for this rivalry to deliver what we all know it can.
This isn’t just a fight; it’s a statement. Title or not, Pimblett versus Topuria is one of the biggest matchups the UFC can put on. It might not headline a numbered event, but trust me, it’s going to be the “people’s main event” and a guaranteed co-main. We’re all counting down the days to see if Paddy proves his point and if Ilia truly is “never gonna be the same.” Get ready for an absolute war.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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