Pimblett vows to finish Topuria 'as fast as McGregor beat Aldo' in 13 seconds

Paddy Pimblett has predicted he would knock out Ilia Topuria as quickly as Conor McGregor dispatched Jose Aldo — in 13 seconds — and dismissed Topuria’s post-fight allegations against lightweight champion Justin Gaethje as baseless excuse-making.

Pimblett made the comments to Kolos MMA following his 52-second submission of Benoit Saint Denis at UFC 329, a result that has placed him in contention for a significant lightweight matchup. Gaethje, who claimed the 155-pound title by defeating Topuria at UFC White House in June, is currently weighing his next opponent, with Arman Tsarukyan and Topuria both in the frame. Whoever Gaethje does not choose could be directed toward Pimblett.

“I’d love to fight Ilia Topuria,” Pimblett said. “I’d send him back down to featherweight. I think me and Ilia Topuria would be a brilliant season of The Ultimate Fighter because I’d get under his skin so much that when we come into the fight I’d beat him just as fast as McGregor beat Aldo.”

McGregor’s 13-second knockout of Aldo at UFC 194 in December 2015 remains one of the most iconic moments in the promotion’s history, and Pimblett’s invocation of it underlines the scale of his confidence — and the personal edge he carries into any discussion of Topuria. The pair have maintained a public feud across two weight classes, and were brought face-to-face in the octagon at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas after Topuria defeated Charles Oliveira to win the lightweight belt, though no official bout was ever sanctioned.

Topuria has since accused Gaethje of loading his gloves ahead of their June contest, a claim Pimblett rejected bluntly.

“He’s talking shit,” Pimblett said. “He’s making excuses when he lost fair and square. I had better excuses than him when I got poked in the eye and kicked in the balls, but I never used them. I just said the better man won on the night. For Ilia to try and take some of it away from Justin, it just shows what a piece of shit Ilia is.”

Pimblett’s stated first preference remains a title shot against Gaethje rather than a grudge match with Topuria, but the lightweight picture is fluid enough that either outcome appears plausible as the division’s next major booking takes shape.