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Paddy Pimblett Breaks Down Bold Career Plan Amid Ilia Topuria Saga

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio G Losada | Last updated Jul 6, 2025 7:12 AM ET

UFC fighter and MMA artist Paddy Pimblett has never lacked confidence, and now the Liverpool native is eyeing a future that extends beyond the Octagon.

Before that, though, he wants to make history by beating the reigning champion and No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter Ilia Topuria, as well as holding another belt.

Pimblett, currently ranked No. 10 in the UFC lightweight division, has hinted at a two-step plan for the short-term future: dethrone Topuria, then jump to welterweight—with Jack Della Maddalena as the current champion—to chase a second belt.

“When I win (the lightweight) belt, then go up and win another belt,” Pimblett said on the July 1 episode of "The Chattin’ Pony Podcast" with Brian Ortega. “There’s a few fights there at 170 that do interest me…

“But for now, I’m just focused on winning the lightweight belt.”

Pimblett's projected run would start with a fight against Topuria, the undefeated lightweight champion, who recently knocked out Charles Oliveira.

Topuria and Pimblett have had a long-standing rivalry, with Pimblett claiming Topuria's “kryptonite” and predicting he’d finish the champion inside the distance.

The 30-year-old lightweight has drawn attention for his in-camp discipline and out-of-camp weight swings, famously jumping from 156 lbs to 198 lbs in just weeks earlier this year.

The build-up would be INTENSE @TopuriaIlia and @PaddyTheBaddy do NOT get along! pic.twitter.com/vhK7OsLD26
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) June 30, 2025

Should Pimblett pull off the two-belt run, he hinted at another massive career move—retirement from MMA and a pivot to acting.

“That’s exactly what I want to do when I retire. Get into a bit of acting,” Pimblett said on the aforementioned podcast.

For now, and unless Topuria offers Pimblett the opportunity of fighting against him for the title on the line, Pimblett will need to earn a shot at the belt by climbing up the lightweight ladder from his current No. 10 spot in the leaderboard.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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