Pimblett Reponds To Topuria’s Comments – ‘I Still Hate Him’

Paddy Pimblett recently offered support for Ilia Topuria during the lightweight champion’s personal struggles, but he was quick to shoot down rumors that the “beef” has been squashed.

The feud started in 2022 at a London fighter hotel, where the two nearly came to blows in the lobby. During the scuffle, Pimblett threw a bottle of hand sanitizer at Topuria’s head, earning the Georgian the nickname “Hand Sanitizer Boy.” The rivalry took an unexpected turn when Topuria announced a hiatus from the Octagon, revealing he is dealing with “extremely serious” personal issues, including a legal battle involving allegations he describes as “extortion.” There have also been calls on him to be stripped of his lightweight title.

“I thought about it, and there’s actually a point to that. … You’ve got to be stripped. I think that is a fair point. I don’t want him stripped. I’m on Ilia’s side of this. I don’t really like what he’s going through. I also think he’s innocent. He seems like a really good guy. I don’t think he would have done these things. However, they’ve got to strip him. If he’s not making the claim that he’s injured and has some kind of a doctor’s report to back it up, as bogus as those can be, he’s got to be stripped,” Sonnen said 

Pimblett Responds

While Pimblett stated that family and personal issues come first, and Topuria acknowledged the gesture, the Liverpudlian remained firm that the feud is not over. Pimblett, who could face Topuria if he beats Justin Gaethje for the interim lightweight title at UFC 324 on January 24, clarified that he is not ready to put their history behind them.

“I still hate him, and I know he still hates me. We still dislike each other, we still want to batter each other, but that’s in the cage. Family is different. I’d never, ever talk about someone’s family, and I know he wouldn’t talk about mine. He’s just not that way inclined. We’re not pieces of s* like [UFC welterweight] Colby Covington.

“It’s nothing to do with our families once we get in there. “He can say anything he wants about me, anything personal. I can say anything personal about him. He can call me a blonde b*h all he wants, and I can call him a little midget sausage. That’s not bringing families into it, is it? So, it’s all good,” Pimblett said