Paddy Pimblett Vows to Vacate UFC Title

Paddy Pimblett has declared he would rather vacate the UFC lightweight title than ever fight his teammate and friend, George Staines. The Liverpool fighter's strong stance on gym loyalty comes as he plots his path back to the championship, a journey that now includes settling two personal feuds and even pitching a reality TV showdown.

Pimblett would vacate a title to protect gym loyalty

Pimblett, 31, stated he would never accept a fight against fellow UK prospect George Staines, who recently earned a UFC contract with a first-round knockout on Dana White's Contender Series. Both men train at the same gym. "No, we’d never fight. Nobody in our gym does that," Pimblett told Kolos MMA. He described his teammates as family and said if he were champion and Staines was the challenger, he would move up a weight class or vacate the belt entirely to avoid the conflict. This principle takes priority even over holding UFC gold.

Two personal feuds stand between Pimblett and a Gaethje rematch

While reigning champion Justin Gaethje remains his ultimate target, Pimblett insists he must first settle scores with Ilia Topuria and Arman Tsarukyan. Gaethje handed Pimblett his first UFC loss via unanimous decision in their interim title fight at UFC 329 in Las Vegas back in January. Pimblett then rebounded with a win over Benoit Saint Denis in July. Gaethje, however, captured the undisputed belt by stopping Topuria at UFC Freedom 250 this past summer. "Well, I want to be world champion, so I’d pick Gaethje," Pimblett said. "But if no belt was on the line with any of them, I want to beat Ilia Topuria, so I’d pick him." He holds a similar sentiment towards Tsarukyan, creating two must-win grudge matches on his climb.

Pimblett rips Topuria as a 'sore loser' over cheating claims

The bad blood with Topuria intensified in September when the Georgian-born fighter suggested Gaethje may have tampered with his gloves during their title fight. Pimblett launched a fierce rebuttal, labeling Topuria a "little bitch" and a sore loser for making the accusations. He scorched Topuria for attempting to tarnish Gaethje's victory rather than accepting the defeat. This public spat has added significant heat to their potential matchup, transforming it from a sporting contest into a deeply personal rivalry.

A pitch to settle the Topuria feud on The Ultimate Fighter

Looking to maximize the entertainment value of their conflict, Pimblett has proposed he and Topuria coach opposing teams on the next season of The Ultimate Fighter in 2027. He believes their clashing personalities would make for compelling television and build a blockbuster pay-per-view fight. "I think me and Ilia Topuria would be a brilliant season of The Ultimate Fighter because I’d get under his skin so much," Pimblett said. UFC CEO Dana White has previously indicated a fight between the two would be big enough to headline a major event.

Ready to fight 'anyone' in a crowded lightweight division

Despite his specific targets, Pimblett maintains he will accept any fight the UFC offers. He questioned the logic of Arman Tsarukyan being next for a title shot, pointing out that since UFC 300, Tsarukyan hasn't beaten anyone ranked higher than the No. 5-ranked opponent Pimblett just defeated. "I’ll just fight whoever’s name gets put on a contract to me. I don’t turn down any fights," Pimblett stated. He named Tsarukyan, Topuria, Charles Oliveira, and Gaethje as potential opponents, emphasizing his willingness to step into the octagon with any of them to prove he belongs at the top.

• Key Takeaways:
• Paddy Pimblett would vacate the UFC lightweight title before fighting teammate George Staines.
• He must settle personal feuds with Ilia Topuria and Arman Tsarukyan before a rematch with champion Justin Gaethje.
• Pimblett called Topuria a "sore loser" for alleging Gaethje cheated and pitched coaching against him on The Ultimate Fighter.
• He is open to fighting anyone in the division but questions the current title shot logic.