Ilia Topuria is back in training, sparking speculation about his UFC return after losing the lightweight title to Justin Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250 in June. Topuria retired on his stool after the fourth round, leaving questions about what comes next for the former two-division champion.
While a rematch with Gaethje remains a possibility, Paddy Pimblett could offer a more intriguing matchup. The Liverpudlian has repeatedly called out Topuria, with their rivalry dating back to a 2022 altercation at a London hotel and a heated exchange at the UFC 282 press conference.
Pimblett recently suggested they could take their feud to The Ultimate Fighter as opposing coaches. However, he has now revealed that his return to the Octagon may not happen anytime soon.
Paddy Pimblett Reveals How Lightweight Division’s Busy Schedule Could Delay His Comeback
2026 has been a busy year for Paddy Pimblett. He challenged Justin Gaethje for the interim lightweight title at UFC 324 in January but lost on the scorecards. The Liverpudlian bounced back in style at UFC 329 in July, submitting Benoit Saint-Denis in just 52 seconds.
With Ilia Topuria back in training, fans expected the two rivals to potentially headline UFC 336 or UFC 337 in January or February 2027. However, Pimblett has now made it clear that his return is not around the corner.
In a recent interview with All Out Fighting, Pimblett was asked about his comeback timeline. He replied, “Not close. I don’t know what’s happening at the minute — we’re going to have to find out.”
He added, “All fighters in my division could be booked up. It’s Charles [Oliveira] vs [Diego] Lopes for the BMF [belt at UFC 335]. It looks like Arman [Tsarukyan] is fighting Justin. Then, there’s only Ilia and Max Holloway ranked above me.”
Pimblett continued, “I think Max is waiting for Conor [McGregor] to have that trilogy, so it’s only Ilia left, really, [meaning] we’re gonna have to see what happens over the next few months.”
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The Englishman also explained why he has no intention of fighting in January again. His weight cut for UFC 324 affected his Christmas celebrations and birthday, which falls on January 3, leaving him unwilling to repeat that experience.
As a result, Pimblett suggested his next fight could come in March or April 2027. He said, “If I don’t fight before the end of the year, it’ll be March or April.”
With UFC 333, UFC 334, and UFC 335 already booked, a return in early 2027 appears increasingly likely. Topuria remains a possible opponent, especially given their long-running rivalry. Pimblett has even proposed coaching an entire season of The Ultimate Fighter against the Spaniard, an idea that reportedly caught Dana White’s attention.