Dana White Open to Paddy Pimblett vs. Topuria TUF Season
Dana White says he 'loves the idea' of a Paddy Pimblett vs. Ilia Topuria season of The Ultimate Fighter, but logistics remain unresolved.
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Dana White says he would welcome a Paddy Pimblett vs. Ilia Topuria season of The Ultimate Fighter, backing a concept Pimblett floated last week as a way to build toward a future fight between the two lightweights.
"I mean, I love the idea of that," White said during the UFC 332 post-fight press conference. "But a lot of things determine how things play out. Not just for TUF, but for certain fights and title fights, we'll see how the timing works out."
Why Pimblett vs. Topuria on TUF Makes Sense Right Now
The idea has legs mainly because both lightweights may be stuck waiting anyway. Justin Gaethje holds the UFC lightweight title after beating Topuria, and the promotion is said to be weighing an immediate rematch between Gaethje and Topuria over giving top contender Arman Tsarukyan the next shot, despite Tsarukyan's position atop the contender list. If that rematch does get made, Topuria would be tied up with Gaethje and not available for a short-notice fight with Pimblett, leaving a coaching season as a logical way to build the matchup while everyone waits on the title picture to sort itself out.
White made clear he is not the one steering this anymore. He has stepped back from day-to-day matchmaking to focus on Zuffa Boxing, and it is matchmaker Hunter Campbell who will ultimately decide how Pimblett, Topuria and the Gaethje title situation all fit together.
What Could Get in the Way
The UFC's history with TUF coaching deals is the real obstacle here, not interest from White. The promotion has a track record of balking at paying coaches what they feel the platform and their time are worth, which is part of why Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier wound up coaching a Russian TUF spinoff instead of the real show. Pimblett and Topuria are two of the promotion's biggest needle-movers right now, and neither figures to coach for free.
Betting Angle
Nothing about a TUF season itself moves a betting line, but it would effectively fast-track interest in Pimblett vs. Topuria as a future pay-per-view fight once the lightweight title picture clears. For bettors, the real number to watch stays on the Gaethje situation: whether the belt goes to Tsarukyan or back to Topuria determines when, or if, a Pimblett matchup with Topuria even becomes available. Until the UFC commits to that direction, any odds on a hypothetical Pimblett-Topuria fight would be pure speculation and not worth chasing yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Dana White confirm a Paddy Pimblett vs. Ilia Topuria season of The Ultimate Fighter?
No. Dana White said during the UFC 332 post-fight press conference that he 'loves the idea' of Paddy Pimblett and Ilia Topuria coaching a season of The Ultimate Fighter, but he stressed that timing and other factors still need to be sorted out before anything is official.
Who suggested the Paddy Pimblett vs. Ilia Topuria TUF idea?
Paddy Pimblett floated the idea of coaching a season of The Ultimate Fighter opposite Ilia Topuria, and Dana White responded positively to the suggestion afterward.
Why might Ilia Topuria be unavailable for a Pimblett fight soon?
The UFC is reportedly considering an immediate rematch between lightweight champion Justin Gaethje and Ilia Topuria rather than giving the title shot to top contender Arman Tsarukyan, which could keep Topuria occupied with Gaethje instead of Pimblett.
