Paddy Pimblett has responded to Ilia Topuria’s show of respect by saying “I still hate him”, but while stressing that he would “never talk about someone’s family”.
Pimblett will fight Justin Gaethje for the interim UFC lightweight title on 24 January, as regular champion Topuria takes a short break from mixed martial arts due to a “difficult moment” in his “personal life”. A win for Pimblett in the main event of UFC 324 would potentially set up a grudge match with Topuria, but the severity of that grudge was called into question by the latter this week.
