“The Baddy” already has future plans.
No. 5-ranked Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Lightweight contender Paddy Pimblett headlines his first UFC event next weekend (Sat., Jan. 24, 2026) when he collides with former interim champion Justin Gaethje in the main event of UFC 324, which goes down inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
If Topuria is unable to return this summer, Pimblett says he would have no issue defending the interim title — including against No. 1-ranked Lightweight Arman Tsarukyan, who has been largely frozen out by the promotion.
“It’s annoying that people are saying I’m ducking Arman — I’ve never been offered to fight Arman,” Pimblett told reporters during a pre-fight scrum. “If I was ever offered that fight, I would’ve punched his head in by now. He irritates me. I think he’s an absolute helmet. So yeah, I’d fight Arman in a heartbeat.
“If Ilia can’t fight until June or July, he should be stripped because he’s holding the division up,” Pimblett added. “I’ll defend against Arman, Max, Charles — whoever. I don’t care.”