After Ilia Topuria took the 155 pound title in June by beating Charles Oliveira, the division looks very different. The promotion has not named Topuria’s next opponent yet, and names like Paddy Pimblett, Arman Tsarukyan and Justin Gaethje are all in the conversation. Pimblett is coming off a TKO win over Michael Chandler at UFC 314 and has pushed loudly for a title shot.
Pimblett says he does not see Topuria as the toughest stylistic matchup for him. He explained that style matters and that the Georgian wrestler Tsarukyan poses problems most matchmakers should respect.
“I think stylistically, Arman is a tougher fight than Ilia,” Pimblett said in an interview with Eldoberdan MMA. “He’s more of a proper lightweight. I think he’s got better grappling than Ilia. Ilia has better striking, yeah, but I just think stylistically, for me…. styles make fights. Everyone fights each other different, and I think stylistically, Arman will be a tougher fight for me.”
Why Tsarukyan worries Pimblett
If the UFC pairs Gaethje next with Topuria, Pimblett expects to be slotted into a fight with Tsarukyan. That match could be especially dangerous because Tsarukyan has heavy wrestling and averages more than three takedowns per outing. For Pimblett, that profile creates multiple pathways to trouble.
Pimblett painted a vivid picture of how he would approach the contest and why he believes he can finish Tsarukyan in several ways.
“I can see so many ways that I finish him,” Pimblett said. “Everyone thinks that on the feet, it would be a one-sided fight. I can see myself knocking him out with kicks and knees and elbows. I’m not going to do what Charles did and come out and have a boxing match with him, because I know he’s a very good boxer. I respect his hands. I respect him as a fighter…. he’s very good.
“But once I get on top of him, he wouldn’t get back up. He wouldn’t be able to. I’d elbow him that many times that he looks like The Elephant Man. … That’s the thing: When I fight him, he’s never fought with emotion before. He goes into every fight calm and calculated. With me, I’m already in his head. He’s not going to fight me like he fights everyone else. He’s going to try and take my head off, and he’s going to get his head took off in the process.”
Matchmaking scenarios and what could follow
There are several ways the division could move. If Topuria accepts a Gaethje fight, Pimblett could face Tsarukyan as a step toward a title shot. If Topuria chooses a different path, Pimblett may need one more win to earn a shot, a route he once expected he would have to take after beating Chandler.
Pimblett’s comments underline how fighters evaluate matchups beyond rankings. For him, the mix of wrestling, striking and temperament determines who presents the greater danger. He says his own trash talk and psychological pressure will change the way opponents fight against him, and that could swing any matchup.
Expect the promotion to move quickly to sort out contenders now that Topuria sits on the belt. Fans should watch for official match announcements in the coming weeks. If Pimblett does get his shot, style and strategy will be the main story lines to follow.
