Paddy Pimblett could be involved in a super-fight in his next UFC appearance - but it has been described as an absolute 'p**s-take' by his rival.
Pimblett hasn't fought since his big win over Michael Chandler last April, but he grabbed plenty of headlines at June's UFC 317, where Ilia Topuria knocked out Charles Oliveira to become the UFC lightweight champion.
After Topuria's victory over Oliveira, which didn't impress Pimblett, the Spaniard called the Scouser into the Octagon for a face-off.
There's beef between Topuria and Pimblett, having had several run-ins over the years, including an altercation at UFC London in 2022.
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And Dan Hooker is convinced the UFC will match Topuria against Pimblett.
He called the proposed bout an 'absolute p**s-take' as he suggested Arman Tsarukyan should be next in line for a shot at UFC gold.
"They might actually do Paddy, which is an absolute p**s-take," he said on Sky Sports NZ. "If you're in Ilia's shoes, logically he should be fighting Arman [Tsarukyan], but he's not gonna because Arman's a really tough fighter.
"But if you're smart, you take Paddy Pimblett," the Kiwi fighter added. "You’re gonna get the most money because there's a lot of animosity and... the worst fighter. It’s a win-win."
One thing's sure, however, Topuria vs. Pimblett would be a mega showdown between two of the UFC's biggest stars.
They are among the biggest names in the promotion and a clash would generate a huge amount of interest across the world.
Topuria's next opponent is still in the works, with the likes of the aforementioned Pimblett and Tsarukyan in the mix, not to mention Justin Gaethje.
Dan Hooker isn't interested in fighting Paddy Pimblett next
Pimblett has been called out by several UFC lightweights given his stock has risen since his stoppage victory over Chandler at UFC 314.
But Hooker, who hasn't fought in a year, isn't keen on a bout against the 30-year-old and called him a 'sh*t' fighter.
"I don't think the guy's that good," Hooker said of Pimblett on Submission Radio. "And it brings out the best of me when I fight an actual good fighter. Like, when they give me someone that I think I can beat, or I think someone's sh*t, then I fight sh*t.
"Like, my mind subconsciously relaxes because I think they're sh*t, and then I do sh*t, then they beat me.
"But when I fight a guy that I think could kick my ass, then my subconscious goes, 'Oh, sh*t, we might get our ass kicked'. Then I wake up so, I actually end up fighting really well.
"So, I'd rather just fight the best guy so I actually perform well."
Topics: Paddy Pimblett, UFC
Nasir Jabbar