Paddy Pimblett has told arch-nemesis Ilia Topuria that he can't wait to 'bully' him in a potential UFC title fight.
Lifelong Liverpool fan Pimblett was present on Tuesday night at Anfield for his side's 1-0 win over Real Madrid, the team UFC lightweight champion Topuria supports.
Paddy Pimblett with Steven Gerrard at Anfield for Liverpool's 1-0 win over Real Madrid
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Pimblett, a Liverpool fan his entire life, met club legend Steven Gerrard for the first time at AnfieldCredit: Instagram @theufcbaddy
Ilia Topuria of Spain faces off against Paddy Pimblett in the UFC lightweight championship bout during the UFC 317 event at T-Mobile Arena on June 28, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada
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'The Baddy' has been feuding with fellow UFC star Topuria for months now, ahead of a potential blockbuster lightweight title bout, and sent a stern message to the champion after Liverpool's win over MadridCredit: Getty
Pimblett has attended several Liverpool games over the last few years and even has his own mural outside the club's stadium, alongside ex-UFC fighter Molly McCann, who comes from the same area.
But on Tuesday, Pimblett's viewing of his beloved Liverpool getting one over Topuria's Madrid was extra special.
'The Baddy' revealed on social media after the fight that he got the chance to meet club legend and childhood hero Steven Gerrard at the game.
Pimblett wants to 'bully' Topuria just like Liverpool did to Madrid
“Finally got to meet Mr Liverpool,” Pimblett captioned an Instagram post with an image of him and Gerrard.
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“One of our own and Huyton’s finest. Steven Gerrard my absolute childhood hero proper scouser who gave his all to the club.”
Pimblett then took a swipe at bitter rival Topuria, who is expected to make his first lightweight title defence in early 2026 in one of the first big cards in the UFC's $7.7 billion broadcast deal with Paramount+.
“No-show from Ilia Topuria," Pimblett added.
"Where were you tonight? Thought you were a Real Madrid fan?
“Can’t wait to bully you in the octagon like the Reds just bullied 'your team' for 90 minutes.”
Is Pimblett going to fight Topuria?
Pimblett and Topuria are two of the biggest stars in Dana White's promotion right now.
UFC stars Paddy Pimblett and Ilia Topuria in a graphic alongside one another
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Pimblett remains confident that he will be the next man to fight Topuria for the UFC lightweight titleCredit: Getty
Ilia Topuria of Spain strikes Charles Oliveira of Brazil in the UFC lightweight championship bout during the UFC 317 event at T-Mobile Arena on June 28, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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Topuria won the belt at 155lbs by knocking out veteran Oliveira and is set to make his first defence soonCredit: Getty
The latter became lightweight champion five months ago by knocking out Charles Oliveira at UFC 317.
White has since been tasked with deciding who Topuria will face in his first defence of the title, with Liverpool's Pimblett one of the frontrunners.
Pimblett, just like Topuria, is undefeated in the UFC, and put on a career-best performance in his last fight against Michael Chandler to climb up the rankings at 155lbs.
'The Baddy' was present for Topuria's win over Oliveira in June and entered the Octagon to face off with the champion after the fight in what many thought was a sign of things to come.
However, Pimblett faces stiff competition from fellow top-ranked stars Arman Tsarukyan and Justin Gaethje to be the next man to fight for lightweight gold.
Gaethje has said he will retire if he doesn't get Topuria next, while Tsarukyan faces Dan Hooker in the main event of UFC Qatar on November 22 in a title eliminator.
A head-to-head graphic of Paddy Pimblett and Ilia Topuria
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This is how the two UFC lightweights compare in their professional MMA careersCredit: Getty / Jordan Brightman-Charles - talkSPORT
UFC CEO White is reportedly 'waiting' on the results of upcoming big fights to decide on Topuria's future before making any big announcements.
Tsarukyan and Gaethje are arguably both more deserving of a title shot than Pimblett based on their resumes.
But Pimblett has the greater name value, and a matchup between the Liverpudlian and Topuria would provide a much bigger financial boost for the UFC than any other name.
Both men genuinely hate one another in a rivalry that started when Pimblett threw a bottle of hand sanitiser at Topuria in a London hotel in 2022.
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It would be one of the most lucrative bouts in UFC history, which could be appealing to Paramount and CBS as they enter their new broadcast agreement with the UFC.
Nonetheless, it's likely fans will have to wait for any announcement until the conclusion of at least UFC 322 on November 15, when another one of Topuria's rivals, Islam Makhachev, faces Jack Della Maddalena for welterweight gold.
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