Ilia Topuria’s lightweight future questioned by Paddy Pimblett

Paddy Pimblett has weighed in on Ilia Topuria's recent move to lightweight, suggesting the Georgian champion is undersized for the division and belongs back at featherweight. Topuria won the featherweight title, successfully defended it once, and then moved up in weight, but struggled against the competition at 155 pounds.

Topuria faced Justin Gaethje for the interim lightweight title at UFC 250 last month and was heavily favored to win. Instead, Gaethje defeated him to claim the interim belt. Pimblett, who had been pursuing a title shot against Topuria before Gaethje's upset victory, believes the outcome validated his assessment of Topuria's size disadvantage at lightweight.

"I always say we have weight classes for a reason," Pimblett told Spinnin Backfist. "Ilia Topuria is a fat featherweight. He's not a lightweight. And if I ever fight him, people will realize that. If he fights me, he will move back down to 145 because he will realize how small he is for lightweight." Pimblett added a philosophical angle to Gaethje's victory, framing it as destiny. "I think it was fate for him to beat me, so that he could beat Ilia on the White House lawn. Be the American in the main event to win a world title. It was destiny."

Pimblett will attempt to return to winning form when he faces Benoit St. Denis at UFC 329 on July 11 in Las Vegas. St. Denis enters the bout riding a four-fight finishing streak.