Pimblett eyes Topuria grudge match after 52-second UFC 329 finish: 'I'd love to smash his head in'

Paddy Pimblett insists his long-running grudge with Ilia Topuria is very much alive, telling an interviewer at Katie Taylor’s retirement fight in Dublin that he would “love to smash his head in” — though he confirmed no official talks have taken place.

Pimblett’s renewed confidence comes on the back of a sharp turnaround in form. After dropping an interim lightweight title fight to Justin Gaethje at UFC 324 earlier in 2026, the Liverpool native returned at UFC 329 and needed just 52 seconds to put Benoit Saint Denis to sleep with a Peruvian necktie. The finish cemented his place in the top 10 of the lightweight rankings and put him firmly back in the frame for a marquee booking.

Topuria, meanwhile, is coming off a stunning championship loss to Gaethje at UFC White House, leaving him in search of a bounce-back fight. The two fighters have feuded for years and been involved in multiple confrontations outside the cage, though the timing has never aligned for a sanctioned bout. Pimblett is cautious about reading too much into the speculation.

“Nothing yet,” he said. “No one spoke to me about it, so we’ll see what happens.”

With undisputed champion Gaethje not expected to defend until 2027, the lightweight division is in a state of flux. No. 1 contender Arman Tsarukyan is set to face Mauricio Ruffy at UFC 331 in what shapes up as a title eliminator, while Charles Oliveira and Max Holloway remain relevant names in the mix.

Pimblett made clear he is not fixated on any single opponent and would welcome a top-five matchup that puts him back in title contention.

“Arman, Gaethje, Ruffy, Charles,” he said. “There’s loads of names. When I get told who I’m fighting, I’m sure everyone else will know.”