Paddy Pimblett wants to 'disfigure' UFC lightweight king Ilia Topuria in next fight - 'We're two people who actually hate each other'

Paddy Pimblett said he would look to "disfigure" lightweight champion Ilia Topuria should the pair meet in the Octagon. Pimblett and Topuria, who have been locked in a feud since 2022, exchanged words in the wake of UFC 317, after the Spaniard recorded a ruthless first-round knockout of Charles Oliveira. Topuria confirmed on Saturday he wants to face Pimblett in his next fight.

Topuria knocks Oliveira ‘out cold’ with stunning first-round combo - ‘A man of his word!’

Video credit: TNT Sports

Paddy Pimblett said he would look to "disfigure" Ilia Topuria should the pair meet in the Octagon.

Topuria claimed the vacant lightweight title at UFC 317 on Saturday, after recording a first-round knockout of Charles Oliveira.

The 28-year-old subsequently called out Pimblett, who had been cage-side, watching on. A war of words between the pair ensued, which came to an abrupt end as Topuria shoved Pimblett in the chest, prompting security to step in.

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Pimblett and Topuria have had a rivalry since 2022, when the Liverpudlian threw a hand sanitiser at ‘El Matador’ during a UFC event in London.

"We’ve got history," Pimblett told ESPN. "You don’t even need to sell that fight. It sells itself. Two people who genuinely dislike each other. You really don’t get that.

"We haven’t seen that since Khabib [Nurmagomedov] and [Conor] McGregor, right? Two people who actually hate each other.

"Because I hate him. I wouldn’t even want to finish him fast. I’d want to finish him with a minute left in the fight. After I’ve elbowed him 700 times. I want to disfigure him."

Topuria calls out and then shoves Pimblett in tense face to face - 'Look at me'

Video credit: TNT Sports

Pimblett claimed a third-round TKO over Michael Chandler in his last UFC outing back in May.

"I’m more motivated when I’m like that," said Pimblett, on his historical feud with Topuria. "Especially the fact that everyone thinks I’ll lose.

"Nine out of 10 people probably think he’ll knock me out. And I love proving people wrong. It just gives me this warm fuzzy feeling inside. Just making people eat their own words."

In his post-fight press conference on Saturday, Topuria reiterated that he wanted to take on Pimblett in his next fight.

"Yes, that’s the fight I want," confirmed Topuria "With Charles, I had a bit of a difficult situation because I really like the guy.

"He’s a really great human being, you can’t hate him. But with Paddy, I’m really going to enjoy kicking his a**."

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Thoughts?