Home/Articles/MMA
MMA·ANALYSIS·October 16, 2026 07:10 PM ET

UFC analyst pushes back on Paddy Pimblett calling Ilia Topuria 'damaged goods'

Pimblett questioned Topuria's recovery from his first loss.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated 59m1 min read
Post on X

What happened: A UFC analyst disputed Paddy Pimblett's assertion that Ilia Topuria is 'damaged goods' after suffering the first defeat of his professional career against Justin Gaethje. Pimblett had argued that Topuria might never be the same fighter after experiencing a loss for the first time.

Why it matters: The verbal exchange keeps tension high around a potential matchup between the two rivals as Topuria plans his return to the Octagon. UFC CEO Dana White previously weighed either a Gaethje rematch or a bout against Pimblett for Topuria's next outing, while Pimblett has been campaigning for the fight since his 52-second submission win at UFC 329.

What to watch: UFC matchmaking will determine whether Topuria faces Gaethje in an immediate rematch or pivots to a grudge match with Pimblett.

Sources

CONVERSATION
Loading comments…
MMAAnalysis
Follow MMA Intelligence
Real-time signals and analysis
@WireReportMMA
WR Pro
The day's sports, briefed to your inbox at 7am ET. Every claim sourced.
$9/monthFree weekly newsletter →
RELATED STORIES
← Back to Wire Report