Not everyone is ready to declare UFC 317 main event victor Ilia Topuria the undisputed number one fighter in the lightweight division.
Topuria secured a knockout win over Charles Oliveira in the headline bout of the recent pay-per-view event in Las Vegas, claiming the championship that Islam Makhachev previously held.
A potential opponent for Topuria`s first title defense quickly emerged following an octagon confrontation between Topuria and Paddy Pimblett that turned physical. Should this fight materialize with the lightweight title on the line, Pimblett`s coach does not believe his fighter would be challenging the division`s absolute best.
Paddy Pimblett`s Coach Insists Islam Makhachev Is Still the Top Lightweight, Not Ilia Topuria
Following Pimblett`s call for a shot at the new champion, the Liverpool native`s coach discussed Topuria during an interview. Paul Rimmer, who trains `The Baddy` at Next Generation MMA, stated that he does not consider Topuria to be the world`s best lightweight after UFC 317. According to Pimblett’s coach, that distinction “undeniably” still belongs to Makhachev.
“If we were offered the two fights, Ilia and (Makhachev), I would be more worried about the (Makhachev) fight than the Ilia fight.”
“Islam, for me, is the guy in the division, the undefeated guy in the division. … He is undeniably the best lightweight in the world.”
Some Back Ilia Topuria to KO Islam Makhachev at Welterweight
With Islam Makhachev expected to move up to the welterweight division, Topuria may not have the opportunity to prove Pimblett`s coach wrong at 155 pounds. However, this doesn`t completely rule out a highly anticipated clash between the two.
Although Topuria reportedly promised the UFC he wouldn`t immediately seek a move to welterweight to chase Makhachev, many observers anticipate `El Matador` will eventually pursue his ambition of competing in multiple weight classes. Should Makhachev be champion at welterweight when Topuria arrives, UFC Hall of Famer Jens Pulver predicts Topuria would knock out the former lightweight king.
“I told you… He`s gonna knock them all out; that combination. Jab to the belly, boom, boom, those hooks inside, over! He`s gonna knock out Makhachev. I told you, he`s gonna go up to Makhachev, he`s gonna knock him out. That`s his goal.”
“Dude, he didn`t just knock (Oliveira) out, he hurt him, he hurt him bad. He knocked him unconscious. … He hits too hard.”
Gareth Fenton 
Percy Harlow