Morning Report: Paddy Pimblett believes Ilia Topuria is ‘scared to fight’ Max Holloway: ‘He knows what will happen’
Paddy Pimblett still isn’t sold on Ilia Topuria.
The beef between England’s “Baddy” and the undefeated 15-0 “El Spaniard” truly feels like a decade ago. In reality, Pimblett and Topuria nearly came to blows inside a UFC host hotel two years ago in London when scheduled for their respective clashes against Rodrigo Vargas and Jai Herbert in lightweight affairs.
Topuria’s clash with “The Black Country Banger” was a one-off at 155 pounds as he scored a vicious second-round knockout before returning to the featherweight ranks. This past February, Topuria made good on his promises by capturing the division’s title with another second-round knockout, dethroning the legend Alexander Volkanovski. Next up is likely to be former champion Max Holloway for his first defense. If so, Pimblett thinks his old rival will be one and done as a titleholder.
“I think I’ve got the same as everyone. Everyone’s picking Max, know what I mean?” Pimblett said on his YouTube channel. “‘Hand sanitizer boy’s’ scared to take the fight, doesn’t want to take the fight against Max because he knows what will happen.
“He fought [Alex] Volkanovski at the perfect time, coming back off getting knocked out like 10 weeks later. He got lucky there, to be honest.”
Pimblett, 29, also won that same night Topuria beat Herbert, scoring a first-round rear-naked choke over Vargas. He’s since won thrice to extend his current streak to seven (five in UFC, 21-3 overall).
The former Cage Warriors champion next plans to break into the official UFC lightweight Top 15 when he battles Bobby Green at UFC 304 in Manchester, England on July 27. After that, he already knows what he wants: That originally targeted matchup with Renato Moicano before working his way toward the grand prize.
“Once I get through Bobby we’ll see what happens with Moicano,” Pimblett said. “Everyone wanted to see me vs. Moicano, so once I beat Bobby let’s see where Moicano’s up to.
“I think, obviously, everyone says that they want to fight Conor McGregor [as their dream fight] just because of the money involved. For me personally, it’s Islam Makhachev. Whoever’s got the belt you want to fight whoever’s got the belt. You want to prove that you’re the best in the world.”
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LET’S WATCH
The MMA Hour.
Light heavyweight history.
Full fight.
Gamebred.
MORNING MUSIC
The DD classics never die.
Go to Twitter, use the #MorningReport hashtag, or find one of my tweets with it, and drop me a jam you’re currently really into. I’ll pick the best one alongside my daily choice and give you a shoutout! You can also share in the comments below — those are just harder to sift through sometimes!
SOCIAL SCROLL DOWN
Don’t diss Dustin.
Hey @TheNotoriousMMA it felt so nice, I did it twice ya bumskie
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) July 1, 2024
Wec neva forget https://t.co/vXdQa9WiyV pic.twitter.com/O6Eay1X17z
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) July 1, 2024
#sleepymac https://t.co/WLpHuaaFQ0
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) July 1, 2024
They should've never give the kid wifi..
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) July 1, 2024
Destruction and destroy.
Uno mas
The Last Dance. Let em know
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) July 1, 2024
Shots.
@AlexPereiraUFC nobody think you can beat me even the odd maker I’m ready for war
— Magomed Ankalaev (@AnkalaevM) July 1, 2024
Good for him. I will soon send him back to Brazil belt less. https://t.co/pYL9LtuxYM
— Magomed Ankalaev (@AnkalaevM) July 2, 2024
Data.
I analyzed the form of the fighters ranked at LHW.
— Andy Hickey MMA (@AndyHickeyMMA) July 1, 2024
Prochazka(1), Hill(3) & Blachowicz(4) are all coming off losses to Alex Pereira.
The #1 contender is clearly Magomed Ankalaev. pic.twitter.com/qhUM81HstV
Jon...
Honestly, it’s hard to say right now, I’m gonna base a lot of that on my next performance. The options are looking crazy right now. https://t.co/3skkYSY7Aj
— BONY (@JonnyBones) July 1, 2024
HUH.
Big, big weekend of talks and clarity. New date loading…
— Michael Chandler (@MikeChandlerMMA) July 1, 2024
I’ve been offered @MAKHACHEVMMA in October - but if @TheNotoriousMMA little pinky toe is ready by Sept, let’s do sphere. Biggest sporting event in history of sports!!!! @RiyadhSeason #ufc306 pic.twitter.com/STUUFns2Hp
— Michael Chandler (@MikeChandlerMMA) July 2, 2024
Good old fashioned passionate American @MizzouWrestling beats sambo all day. @MAKHACHEVMMA
— Michael Chandler (@MikeChandlerMMA) July 2, 2024
D’oh.
No thanks https://t.co/FBrjmGmTV3
— Makhachev Islam (@MAKHACHEVMMA) July 1, 2024
I need new
— Makhachev Islam (@MAKHACHEVMMA) July 1, 2024
“No thanks” - retire man…we good.
— Michael Chandler (@MikeChandlerMMA) July 2, 2024
I’ve been your ass for 8 years…good, old-fashioned, passionate @MizzouWrestling beats Dagestani sambo every day of the week @MAKHACHEVMMA https://t.co/BXsldmIIzn
— Michael Chandler (@MikeChandlerMMA) July 2, 2024
Pipe down muscle milk mike
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) July 2, 2024
Choked your ass out, and you haven't fought since https://t.co/WLV5W3mvJB
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) July 2, 2024
He keeps going.
I don’t get taken down in the open, I don’t get taken down on the cage…I don’t get taken down, period. #andNEW
— Michael Chandler (@MikeChandlerMMA) July 2, 2024
I finish Islam…
— Michael Chandler (@MikeChandlerMMA) July 2, 2024
One has 10 toes and a heart…the other has 9 toes and a bottle of whisky…
— Michael Chandler (@MikeChandlerMMA) July 2, 2024
Rematch?
— Michael Chandler (@MikeChandlerMMA) July 2, 2024
Chads.
Welcome to $GIGA, @MikeOHearn !
— Paulo Costa ( Borrachinha ) (@BorrachinhaMMA) July 1, 2024
Can’t wait to collab together!
It’s the big one pic.twitter.com/ZlmTjo495y
Heaven.
A magnificent, almost heavenly place. pic.twitter.com/ukREK8Ee4Z
— Georges St-Pierre (@GeorgesStPierre) July 1, 2024
Louis is the man.
Alex Pereira vs Jiri Prochazka 2 (2024)
— Fight Pics That Go Hard (@fightpicsgohard) June 30, 2024
@LouisGrasse pic.twitter.com/nT5F0hd43K
Strickland things.
Mitch Aguiar is a savage and would beat 99.9 percent of humans in a fight
— Jake Shields (@jakeshieldsajj) July 1, 2024
He decided he wanted to spar with Sean Strickland for 25 min
He quickly learned there is a big difference between world champions but regardless he took a brutal beating and didn't quit
Sean obviously… pic.twitter.com/IP8MvW4lLE
It always seems like a good idea to spar a world champion until you actually pic.twitter.com/onWTbrQcoO
— Jake Shields (@jakeshieldsajj) July 1, 2024
So you guys it finally happened... I sparred a navy seal
— Sean Strickland (@SStricklandMMA) July 1, 2024
But I got to know him after the blood and he's such a great guy. Everything I hate about special forces guys he's not..
You're on of the real ones.. dammit man that wasn't meant for you. Lol!!!!!!
Conceded.
Hey @Diegolopesmma, I wanna give you a rematch at the Sphere because @funkmasterMMA is running for his life, and this time I’m gonna finish you.
— Movsar Evloev (@MovsarUFC) July 2, 2024
Have you finally realized that the way the UFC pays attention to you is by mentioning my name? Or are you afraid that tomorrow morning I'll be in your place in the rankings? It took you 3 months to get back to me. Sit back and watch the big guys do the work. https://t.co/WeeRx2nNVz
— Diego Lopes (@Diegolopesmma) July 2, 2024
On Saturday night, Dan and I did something you would never do in your life. You've only had one fight in 13 months. You have no right to anything. First you seek to finish someone, or at least try to get a submission. https://t.co/qgFYc7yfsY
— Diego Lopes (@Diegolopesmma) July 2, 2024
Either you’re a lying charlatan or you can’t read. Neither one is good mi bredda https://t.co/eT8g0gdgKn
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) July 2, 2024
Void.
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Josiane Nunes (10-2) vs. Jacqueline Cavalcanti (6-1); UFC Vegas 96, Aug. 24
FINAL THOUGHTS
Bad look, Paddy. Gotta leave that one alone at this stage.
Thanks for reading!
EXIT POLL
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