The UFC might want to put their security on high alert in Qatar because things are starting to get spicy between Ilia Topuria and Paddy Pimblett over there.<\/p>\n
Topuria and Pimblett are no strangers to scrums.<\/a> Pimblett bounced a hand sanitizer bottle off Topuria\u2019s head after the Georgian fighter came at him during UFC London fight week in 2022. Several months later, security had to separate the two during a UFC 282 press conference. Most recently, Pimblett defied UFC higher ups and got into the cage following Topuria\u2019s win at UFC 317. That ended with Topuria shoving Pimblett,<\/a> and fans demanding to see them fight.<\/p>\n There have also been some amicable run-ins as well, and both seemed ready to go that route in Qatar when their teams encountered each other \u2026 until things took a sideways turn. Pimblett is in Qatar cornering teammates Luke Riley and Shem Rock, while Ilia is there for his brother Aleksandre Topuria\u2019s second UFC fight.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s up, bro?\u201d Topuria said as his team walked towards the hotel entrance (video via KOlmeneroMMA).<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s happening, you all right?\u201d Pimblett said, giving Topuria a thumbs up from across the hotel courtyard.<\/p>\n Maybe Topuria took that as a reference to Pimblett\u2019s comments accusing the lightweight champion of refusing to sign a contract<\/a> to fight. You all right? You injured? Why aren\u2019t you signing the contract to fight me? Or maybe Ilia just didn\u2019t like Paddy\u2019s stupid joking tone. Whatever the case, \u201cEl Matador\u201d was clearly annoyed.<\/p>\n \u201cP-ssy,\u201d Topuria declared.<\/p>\n \u201cCome on chorizo, calm down,\u201d Pimblett replied.<\/p>\n While the two never got more than 20 feet from each other, security quickly converged on the spot with three large men casually blocking Pimblett from following Topuria into the hotel.<\/p>\n Paddy Pimblett has all the reasons in the world to cause a ruckus in Qatar. His war of words and in-cage shoving match have made him the big money fight option for Topuria as the lightweight champion awaits the UFC\u2019s decision on who he\u2019ll fight next. While Justin Gaethje was the odds on favorite<\/a> to have \u2018next,\u2019 we\u2019re hearing that a big performance from Arman Tsarukyan could put him back in the top spot \u2026 and he\u2019d be ready for January.<\/a><\/p>\n