Paddy Pimblett is accusing the UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria not wanting to fight Max Holloway.
Topuria (15-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) is expected to make his first title defense against Holloway (26-7 MMA, 22-7 UFC), who recently left Justin Gaethje unconscious to win the BMF title at UFC 300.
Pimblett and Topuria were on a potential collision course more than two years ago when they were involved in a fight during the week of UFC Fight Night 204, in which they both competed against their respective opponents. Pimblett threw a bottle of hand sanitizer at Topuria before the two separated.
Pimblett (21-3 MMA, 5-0 UFC) took the opportunity to rekindle the flame with Topuria when he was asked what he thought about the “El Matador” fight with Holloway.
“I think I have the same thing as everyone else. Everyone’s choosing Max, you know what I mean? Pimblett said in his Youtube channel. “The ‘hand sanitizer boy’ is scared to fight, he doesn’t want to fight Max because he knows what’s going to happen. He fought (Alexander) Volkanovski at the perfect time, coming back from being knocked out about 10 weeks later. He was lucky there, to be honest.”
Pimblett faces Bobby Green (32-15-1 MMA, 13-10-1 UFC) on July 27 at UFC 304 (ESPN+ pay-per-view) from Co-op Live in Manchester, England. He has Renato Moicano in his sights and hopes that the fight takes place after Green.
“Once I get past Bobby, we’ll see what happens with Moicano,” Pimblett said. “Everyone wanted to see me against Moicano, so as soon as I beat Bobby we’ll see where Moicano is going.”
