Paddy Pimblett: Ilia Topuria should leave the UFC belt if she is inactive for too long

Paddy Pimblett doesn’t want to find himself in a situation like Tom Aspinall’s. Lightweight champion Ilia Topuria is going through a divorce and has taken a short break from the sport. Meanwhile, Pimblett will fight Justin Gaethje for an interim lightweight title at UFC 324 on Jan. 24 in Las Vegas. Pimblett (23-3) is worried about the immediate future if he beats Gaethje (26-5) at UFC 324. Pimblett believes he may have to wait a long time for a title unification match against Topuria. Pimblett does not want to keep waiting for Topuria, as his compatriot Aspinall had to wait for Jon Jones. While “The Baddy” wants to fight Topuria, he would rather see the champion vacate the title than keep the division afloat.

The waiting game

“People say Ilia won’t be back for at least a year,” Pimblett recently told Aspinall. “People say it could get messy and it could take two years. If he stays around that long, I’d rather he leave and not maintain the division anymore. But I do want to fight him… However, I want to beat Ilia and show everyone that I can beat him. But at the same time, if he wants to make me wait like Tom waited for Jon, then no.”Aspinall (15-3) won the interim title against Sergei Pavlovich in 2023, when an injury forced Jones out of a planned title defense against Stipe Miocic. Despite Aspinall being the interim champion, Jones insisted on defending his title against Miocic upon his return in 2024. Meanwhile, Aspinall defended the interim title against Curtis Blaydes. Despite promises from Dana White of a title unification between Jones and Aspinall, “Bones” refused to accept the fight. Aspinall was eventually promoted to undisputed champion following Jones’ retirement in June 2025. Aspinall put his title on the line against Ciryl Gane in October, returning to action after more than a year away. The fight ended in an anticlimactic no contest after a double eye poke from Gane left Aspinall unable to continue.