Does Paddy Pimblett Deserve a Title Shot?
Ilia Topuria has officially reached superstar status. After viciously knocking out Charles Oliveira in the first round of the UFC 317 main event, the Spaniard became just the 10th fighter in UFC history to win a championship in two divisions. With Topuria’s reign over the Lightweight Division officially beginning, it seems that his first challenger will be the charismatic Paddy Pimblett. However, in a division as stacked as the Lightweight Division, does Pimblett deserve a title shot?
There were three notable Lightweights in the crowd at UFC 317: Justin Gaethje, Arman Tsarukyan, and Pimblett. All three men have been vocal about why they deserve the next title shot, though it seems to be only Pimblett who has caught the eye of Topuria. After Topuria laid waste to the former Lightweight Champion, Oliveira, he immediately called out the Scouser. Pimblett would enter the octagon and engage in a verbal sparring match with the new Lightweight Champion. The two would have to be separated by security after a shoving match ensued. The interaction between Topuria and Pimblett perfectly encapsulates the blood feud that has developed between the two.
Pimblett is coming off the biggest win of his life over Michael Chandler at UFC 314. Pimblett, who entered the fight as the underdog, dominated Chandler en route to a third-round TKO. There’s no doubt that the win against Chandler was impressive, but it doesn't compare to someone like Tsarukyan’s recent wins. Tsarukyan is currently on a four-fight win streak, with his most recent win coming against Oliveira. Gaethje, who has been demanding a title shot following his second win against Rafael Fiziev, is 3-1 in his last four fights.
When discussing who deserves the next Lightweight Championship opportunity between Tsarukyan, Gaethje, and Pimblett, it’s obvious that Pimblett’s case for a title shot is not as strong as the others. However, rivalries are a massive part of the sport, and there may not be a bigger rivalry today than Topuria and Pimblett. These are two fighters who genuinely hate each other, while also being two of the biggest superstars in the sport. Even though Pimblett may not be the strongest contender, he is the biggest star the Lightweight Division has to offer besides the champion himself. A fight between Topuria and Pimblett would not only settle the issues between the two that have been brewing for five years but would also be one of the highest-selling fights in UFC history.
