Ilia Topuria Shoves Paddy Pimblett After Intense Face-Off Following Win at UFC 317

Paddy Pimblett wasted no time staking his claim as the first man to challenge new UFC lightweight champion, Ilia Topuria. The former featherweight champion needed just one round to knock Charles Oliveira out cold and claim the vacant 155-pound title at UFC 317 on Saturday night.

‘Paddy The Baddy’ was brought directly into the Octagon after Ilia’s victory and he was quick to congratulate his rival before things became physical. When first approaching the new champion, Pimblett let him know that he wouldn’t suffer the same fate as Oliveira when the pair share the cage officially.

“Well done lad. That was a heavy knockout, respect… but you will never knock me out!”

Topuria wasn’t impressed by that remark, immediately responding: “I’m going to take your head, you little p***y. I’m going to put my balls on your forehead you little p***y!”

Not one to let an opponent have the last word, Paddy fired back:

Ilia was in no mood to back down after the biggest win of his career and responded to Pimblett’s taunts by shoving him away – at which point security stepped in to prevent the situation from escalating.

Having needed so little time to deal with Oliveira, Topuria may not need long to rest before getting back in the Octagon – making Topuria vs Pimblett a realistic proposition before the end of 2025. Both men certainly want the fight sooner rather than later, judging by their scrap at UFC 317.