Paddy Pimblett calls Ilia Topuria 'damaged goods' after Gaethje loss, eyes 2027 fight

Paddy Pimblett says Ilia Topuria is "a little bit damaged goods" after the former two-division champion's first career loss to Justin Gaethje, and the English lightweight still wants to be the man who welcomes Topuria back to the Octagon. In comments reported on October 14 by Bloody Elbow and Sports Illustrated, Pimblett argued that Topuria will never be the same fighter now that his unbeaten aura is gone.

"Damaged goods" after UFC Freedom 250

Topuria (17-1 MMA, 9-1 UFC) entered UFC Freedom 250 at the White House in June as lightweight champion and widely regarded as one of the pound-for-pound best in the sport. Gaethje (28-5 MMA, 11-5 UFC) battered him over four rounds before Topuria's corner stopped the fight between rounds four and five, ending Topuria's perfect record and stripping him of the 155-pound title.

According to Bloody Elbow, which cited an All Out Fighting interview, Pimblett framed the defeat as a mental turning point.

"I respect him; he's a very good fighter, but he's never fought anyone like me," Pimblett said. "I'm too big and too long for him, and I'll show him that when I beat him up.

"A little bit damaged goods. You know, he's never lost before, so I don't think he'll ever be the same when he comes back.

"I lost my first fight when I was 18, and I had to build myself back up, and then I had to do it again when I was 22, 23. He's never lost before, and he's about 27 or something. So, his whole aura was unbeatable and this and that.

"Now he's been beat, that's in his head, and I'll prove that if I end up fighting him next."

Sports Illustrated, citing Fighters Only, carried a nearly identical exchange in which Pimblett again called Topuria "a little bit damaged goods" and said he would "beat him up" if the UFC books the fight.

Rivalry that never cooled

The pair's bad blood is well documented. They had a viral cage-side face-off after Topuria knocked out Charles Oliveira to win the lightweight title at UFC 317, and they have traded insults for years — including Pimblett's "hand sanitiser" nicknames after a prior social-media splash. Fans have long floated Topuria vs Pimblett as a natural 2027 return option for the Spaniard once he finishes recovering from the facial damage he took against Gaethje.

Topuria has recently returned to training and is widely expected to fight again in early 2027. Who he faces first remains unsettled: a rematch with Gaethje and a fight with Pimblett have both been discussed publicly by UFC figures and media.

Pimblett not fighting again in 2026

Pimblett (23-4 MMA, 7-1 UFC) lost a Fight of the Year contender to Gaethje in an interim title bout at UFC 324 in January, then submitted Benoit Saint-Denis in 52 seconds at UFC 329 in July. He had hoped for another bout before the end of 2026, but that window has closed.

While attending a Misfits Boxing show, Pimblett gave a blunt timeline update, Bloody Elbow reported.

"At the minute, I don't know," he said. "It'll probably be next year now, so I can get fat over Christmas. Loads of scran over the next couple of days and weeks. I'll enjoy my Christmas dinner and then get back into camp."

What it means for the lightweight picture

If Topuria returns in early 2027 and Pimblett is free after Christmas camp, the matchup would settle one of the division's longest-running personal rivalries. It would also test Pimblett's claim that size and length — plus Topuria's first taste of adversity — tip the fight his way. For now, none of that is booked: Pimblett's comments are trash talk and matchmaking speculation, not an official UFC announcement.

Gaethje remains lightweight champion. Oliveira vs Diego Lopes for the BMF title headlines UFC 335 on December 12 in Las Vegas, while other contenders such as Arman Tsarukyan remain in the mix for the next title shot. Pimblett's path back to the belt still runs through whoever is available when he returns to camp in 2027.