Pimblett taunts 'little pretender' Topuria after Gaethje snatches UFC lightweight title

Paddy Pimblett wasted no time rubbing salt in Ilia Topuria’s wounds after Justin Gaethje dethroned the two-division UFC champion at UFC White House on Sunday night, when Topuria’s corner pulled him from his stool before the fifth round. Pimblett took to social media on Monday morning to resurrect a January exchange in which Topuria had mocked him moments after Gaethje beat Pimblett by decision for the interim lightweight title.

In that original post, Topuria had called Pimblett a “little sausage” and suggested all he had to do to earn their fight was “beat a 38-year-old guy coming off a five-round war.” Pimblett flipped the script after Sunday’s result. “The only thing you had to do was beat a 38 year old coming off of a 5 round war with me,” he wrote. “Instead you quit on your stool like the little bitch you are. I’m a real fighter and went 5 rounds, you’re a little pretender chorizo! Congratulation Justin Gaethje. Rematch for undisputed?”

The fight itself was competitive through the early rounds. Topuria landed damaging body shots and hurt Gaethje at points, but Gaethje’s jab steadily carved up Topuria’s face and eyes. The ringside doctor came close to stopping the bout after round three, only for referee Marc Goddard to allow it to continue after Topuria protested. The Georgian was nearly finished in the fourth, and his corner made the call to end it before the bell for round five.

Gaethje, now the undisputed UFC lightweight champion, said after the fight that he had promised his mother he would not make any decision about retirement on fight night, leaving the division’s immediate future uncertain. Among the contenders in line are Arman Tsarukyan, who has campaigned for a title shot for over a year, and BMF titleholder Charles Oliveira, who represents a potential rematch option.

Pimblett himself returns to action on July 11 at UFC 329, where he faces Benoit Saint-Denis on a card headlined by Max Holloway and Conor McGregor. A strong performance there could re-insert him into the lightweight title conversation — though whether Gaethje will still be champion, or even still fighting, remains an open question.