Pimblett Vows to 'Terrorize' Topuria, Tsarukyan

Paddy Pimblett says he will show no mercy to Ilia Topuria or Arman Tsarukyan if either fight ever gets made, drawing a sharp line between how he'd treat them and how he'd treat lightweight rivals he respects like Max Holloway or Charles Oliveira.

Pimblett made the comments on the Green Light podcast, laying out a clear split in how he views the current lightweight field. Against Topuria or Tsarukyan, he's promising a war of words on top of whatever happens in the cage. Against Holloway or Oliveira, he says the trash talk stops because the respect is real.

What Did Paddy Pimblett Say About Ilia Topuria and Arman Tsarukyan?

Pimblett didn't hold back when asked about the two lightweight names hovering closest to the title picture. "If I fight Ilia or Arman, I'm gonna absolutely rinse their lives. I'm gonna absolutely terrorize them," Pimblett said. "But if I fight Max Holloway or Charles Oliveira I wouldn't, because I respect them and I like them."

The two rivals get very different treatment in Pimblett's eyes, even though he's willing to talk trash to both. He said he does respect Topuria, calling him "a little helmet" while adding "we've had beef for years" and that he'd "love to fight him and give him shit." Tsarukyan gets no such courtesy. Pimblett called him "no respect at all," saying he's "just rich kid, who's daddy's a millionaire," despite acknowledging he's "a good fighter."

Where Do Pimblett, Topuria and Tsarukyan Actually Stand in the Lightweight Picture?

None of this is a fight being made right now, it's Pimblett staking his claim in a division that's about to get busy. Pimblett is coming off a finish of Benoit Saint Denis in July on the Max Holloway vs. Conor McGregor card, a win that put him back in the mix for a title shot after he came up short against Justin Gaethje in an interim title fight earlier this year. He has not booked his next fight since beating Saint Denis.

Tsarukyan already has his next assignment locked in, a co-main event slot against Mauricio Ruffy at UFC 331 on September 19 in Los Angeles. Topuria, meanwhile, is still without a return date after suffering the first loss of his career to Gaethje in their UFC White House title unification bout in June.

Betting Angle

There's no line to speak of here since none of these fights are booked, but Pimblett's comments are worth filing away for how the lightweight market could shift. If Tsarukyan gets past Ruffy in September, a Pimblett matchup becomes a live possibility given how Pimblett has positioned himself in this rivalry, and sportsbooks would likely favor Tsarukyan given his wrestling pedigree and closer proximity to title contention. Topuria remains the bigger commercial and betting draw of the two names, and any Pimblett fight with him would open as a competitive line given Topuria's finishing power against Pimblett's grappling-heavy approach. For now this is verbal positioning, not a bout to price.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did Paddy Pimblett say about fighting Ilia Topuria and Arman Tsarukyan?

Paddy Pimblett said he would 'terrorize' Ilia Topuria and Arman Tsarukyan if he ever fought them, but said he would show respect to Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira instead.

Is Paddy Pimblett fighting Ilia Topuria or Arman Tsarukyan next?

No fight is currently booked. Paddy Pimblett has not fought since finishing Benoit Saint Denis in July, Arman Tsarukyan is set to face Mauricio Ruffy at UFC 331 on September 19, and Ilia Topuria has no scheduled return after losing to Justin Gaethje in June.

Why does Paddy Pimblett respect Ilia Topuria but not Arman Tsarukyan?

Paddy Pimblett said he respects Ilia Topuria despite their long rivalry, but said he has no respect for Arman Tsarukyan, claiming his career has benefited from his father's wealth.