Paddy Pimblett Clashes With Ilia Topuria in Heated Confrontation With UFC Rival

Paddy Pimblett and Ilia Topuria exchanged words as they were involved in a heated conversation ahead of UFC Qatar.

The UFC head to Qatar for the first time on Saturday as a lightweight title eliminator between Arman Tsarukyan and Dan Hooker headlines the stacked card.

A pivotal welterweight bout between former UFC champion Belal Muhammad and top contender Ian Garry serves as the co-main event.

Elsewhere on the card, Pimblett's teammates Shem Rock and Luke Riley make their UFC debuts.

Rock, who shone in OKTAGON MMA, meets Nurullo Aliev while Riley, who made his name in Cage Warriors, faces Bogdan Grad.

Next Generation MMA coaches Paul Rimmer and Ellis Hampson will be in their corners, as well as Pimblett, who awaits his next UFC assignment having stopped Michael Chandler in April.

Pimblett's nemesis Topuria is also in Qatar as the UFC lightweight champion corners his brother Aleksandre Topuria against Bekzat Almakhan.

And Pimblett and Topuria crossed paths in Qatar, exchanging words in a heated moment.

Their exchange began friendly before a member of Topuria's camp called Pimblett a 'p**sy'.

The 30-year-old replied: "C'mon chorizo... calm down."

There were plenty of security on hand to prevent a scrap, which happened at UFC London in March 2022.

At the fighters' hotel, Pimblett and Topuria clashed, with 'The Baddy' throwing a hand sanitiser at his rival.

Will Paddy Pimblett fight Ilia Topuria next?

Topuria hasn't fought since claiming the UFC lightweight title against Charles Oliveira in June and, as mentioned, Pimblett last fought when he destroyed Chandler in April.

A UFC championship showdown between Topuria and Pimblett has been mooted as a January date has been reported.

Topuria vs. Pimblett could land on UFC 324 - the promotion's first major event of 2026.

The Liverpool fighter, meanwhile, has moved up in the UFC lightweight rankings, suggesting he could be next in line.

His new ranking stunned Hooker, who burst into laughter when informed of Pimblett's new ranking.

"How? They [the UFC] must be giving him the title shot," said the Kiwi fighter.

"They must be cherry-picking him for the title shot. It is what it is."