Justin Gaethje has a unique perspective on both fighters in this conversation. He has shared an octagon with Paddy Pimblett and with Ilia Topuria at the highest level, and his assessment of how a matchup between them would play out carries considerably more weight than fan debate.
Justin Gaethje’s Verdict About Potential Ilia Topuria vs. Paddy Pimblett
Justin Gaethje said:
“Ilia is a lot more dangerous than Paddy Pimblett. Paddy is goofy. That’s why he has success. In my mind, 97 out of 100 times Ilia beats [Paddy] up.”
Gaethje dismantled Pimblett at UFC 324, dropping the Liverpudlian multiple times on his way to claiming the interim lightweight title. He knows exactly what Pimblett’s ceiling looks like under genuine elite pressure.
He then went to the White House South Lawn and broke Topuria’s orbital bones and nose over four rounds to claim the undisputed belt, so he knows precisely how dangerous ‘El Matador’ is as well.
Topuria did land a body shot combination in round two that dropped ‘The Highlight’ and nearly finished the fight, which makes Gaethje’s respect for ‘El Matador’s’ danger level entirely genuine rather than generous.
The Scouser Who Does Not Get Knocked Out
Paddy Pimblett’s famous personal belief that scousers simply do not get knocked out has built a mythology around his durability that some fighters have taken seriously. Arman Tsarukyan is among those who believe Pimblett’s toughness and awkward style could give Topuria genuine problems. Justin Gaethje is not buying it for a single second. Calling ‘The Baddy’ goofy is not disrespect in Gaethje’s framing; it is a tactical observation that what works against most fighters evaporates against someone with Ilia Topuria’s precision and finishing ability.
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