UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria\u2019s first title defense could come against a longtime rival after a social media post went viral.<\/p>\n
Ilia Topuria followed up his confident talk with brutal action as he knocked out Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 earlier this year to win the then-vacant UFC lightweight belt. Topuria vacated the UFC featherweight title earlier this year for a full-time move to lightweight, and dominated one of the division\u2019s top names.<\/p>\n
Since Topuria\u2019s title win, several names are being tossed around for his first opponent as champion, including top contender Arman Tsarukyan. But Tsarukyan is slated to face Dan Hooker in the UFC Qatar main event next month in a likely No. 1 contender bout.<\/p>\n
Unless the Tsarukyan vs. Hooker winner makes a quick turnaround, Topuria\u2019s next opponent remains up in the air. But we might\u2019ve gotten some answers on Friday courtesy of one of Topuria\u2019s longtime adversaries.<\/p>\n
Paddy Pimblett teases Ilia Topuria for not \u2018signing the contract\u2019 for UFC title showdown<\/p>\n
In a recent Instagram<\/a> post, Paddy Pimblett seemed to hint that he\u2019s signed off to fight Topuria next year.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201c\u2018Paddy why hasn\u2019t [hand sanitizer boy] signed the contract yet?’\u201d Pimblett posted on Friday.<\/p>\n As of this writing, there\u2019s no substantial media reporting on Topuria vs. Pimblett being in the works for an upcoming card. But UFC CEO Dana White recently insinuated that Topuria could potentially headline the promotion\u2019s first major card<\/a> of 2026 when the Paramount+ broadcasting partnership goes into effect in January.<\/p>\n Topuria also has the lightweight division\u2019s former king, Islam Makhachev, on his mind for his next potential fight. Makhachev will challenge UFC welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena in the UFC 322 main event next month.<\/p>\n Topuria and Pimblett have been on each other\u2019s nerves for years, stemming from a UFC London fighter hotel blowup in 2022<\/a>. The two lightweights had a heated faceoff in the cage at UFC 317, and the two seemed destined for a potential clash.<\/p>\n Topuria hasn\u2019t responded to Pimblett\u2019s post, as of this writing, and the next UFC lightweight title fight remains a mystery. But Pimblett seems confident he\u2019s in the UFC\u2019s plans, and we should learn more information on a potential fight soon.<\/p>\n