Paddy Pimblett clarifies when he expects to be back after UFC 322 disrupted his plans

Since beating Michael Chandler at UFC 304 earlier this year, Pimblett has been vocal about wanting a shot at Topuria’s title.

Rumours have also surfaced that the UFC is considering booking Topuria vs. Pimblett for the first numbered event of 2026, which will mark the promotion’s debut on Paramount.

Meanwhile, ‘El Matador’ has continued to push for a big-name fight against Makhachev, with fans also eager to see that matchup.

Makhachev’s recent win has only increased speculation around a possible bout with Topuria, leaving Pimblett unsure about his next opponent.

After UFC 322, ‘The Baddy’ said: “All for me is, let’s see what’s happening now with Islam because is Ilia gonna stick to his word and say he’s gonna move up, or is he gonna stick to his other word and say he’s gonna fight me next, we don’t know what’s happening, do we?

“You never know, I could end up fighting Ilia, I could finally end up fighting (Justin) Gaethje, I thought I was going to in Abu Dhabi. No one knows what’s happening until Islam decides what he’s doing, because I know Ilia is saying he wants to fight him.

“I’ll be fighting early next year, no matter what, no matter who it is, I’ll have an opponent, I’ll definitely be fighting early next year.”

Islam Makhachev vs Ilia Topuria: a potential blockbuster for the UFC

There is no doubt that a showdown between Makhachev and Topuria would be one of the most anticipated fights in MMA history, with both fighters holding dominant runs in their respective divisions.

However, booking that fight could put two weight classes on hold, and it remains to be seen if the UFC is ready to move forward with it or explore other options.