With UFC lightweight champ Ilia Topuria reportedly taking the next several months off, the 155 pound division is stuck in limbo with multiple potential contenders left with little to do.
No one knows for sure what changed the original plan being floated by UFC brass and Team Topuria insiders, which was a return in January. Vague references to issues in Ilia’s personal life make us wonder whether a rumored divorce from his wife could be affecting things, either emotionally or financially.
As for the contenders, there’s Paddy Pimblett and Justin Gaethje — both men whose names were linked to a potential Topuria fight. Now Daniel Cormier says the UFC was hoping to match them up.
“I know for a fact that they wanted to do Paddy versus Justin,” Cormier said in a new YouTube video. “A win over Justin after what [Paddy’s] done already, now I would’ve bought Paddy fighting for the belt right now. Because I still believe that Paddy needs to continue to grow in the Octagon a little bit.”
“He’s fought so well that we go, ‘Man, the way he beat [Michael] Chandler, we’ve never seen that before.’ But Ilia’s a different beast, he’s a savage.”
The big problem with Gaethje vs. Pimblett? Justin Gaethje doesn’t want it. He’s specifically said he’s not interested in fighting Paddy, and generally said that he’d retire if he wasn’t given the next lightweight title fight.
Will Topuria being out until spring change his mind? We kind of doubt it. “The Highlight” seems to be having more than enough fun golfing with “DC” while he waits for this drama at the top of the division to sort itself out.
