UFC personality Paddy Pimblett delivered a harsh critique of Charles Oliveira following his decisive knockout defeat by Ilia Topuria. Topuria secured a first-round victory over Oliveira in the main event of UFC 317, landing a clean right hook that dropped the Brazilian fighter, followed by a left hand.
This victory saw Ilia Topuria, the reigning featherweight champion, add the lightweight title to his collection by defeating the former champion Oliveira. After the fight, Topuria and Pimblett, who have a history of animosity, engaged in a tense faceoff, fueling speculation about a future bout between the two rivals.
While Pimblett expressed enthusiasm about the possibility of finally settling his score with Topuria, he offered a blunt assessment of Oliveira`s performance during their recent clash at UFC 317.
Paddy Pimblett`s Stinging Criticism of Charles Oliveira
Throughout their careers in the lightweight division, Pimblett had previously spoken favorably about Oliveira and had even teased a potential fight between them on multiple occasions. However, Oliveira`s showing at UFC 317 significantly eroded Pimblett`s respect for his accomplishments.
Speaking on the “Verse Us” podcast recently, Pimblett sharply questioned Oliveira`s approach in the fight. “What the hell was that gameplan?” Pimblett asked rhetorically. “Standing there and getting punched? He did try a little bit in the first 30 seconds, some teeps and leg kicks, and I initially thought it could be a tough night for Topuria… but when Oliveira was walking out, he looked nervous… I just want to know what the plan was. Why just stand in the middle?”
“It honestly blew my mind how foolish he could be,” Pimblett continued. “Even in his 47th professional fight, he went in there looking like an amateur.”
The loss to Topuria marks Oliveira`s second consecutive defeat in a UFC title fight, following his loss to Islam Makhachev for the then-vacant lightweight belt at UFC 280. Prior to facing Topuria, Oliveira had rebounded with notable wins over fighters like Michael Chandler and Beneil Dariush to re-establish himself in the lightweight title picture.
Oliveira appeared composed in his initial remarks on social media after UFC 317, but his performance has left many spectators questioning his strategy. While a return to action later this year is possible, he is now likely several victories away from another opportunity at the lightweight championship.
Rumors Surface About Paddy Pimblett Facing Justin Gaethje at UFC 319
Regarding Paddy Pimblett`s next move, UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis recently made waves by claiming that Pimblett vs. Justin Gaethje is set to be the co-main event at UFC 319 next month. If confirmed, this matchup would contradict the speculation that Pimblett might be next in line to challenge Topuria for the lightweight title following their recent faceoff. However, the UFC has not yet made any official announcements regarding Pimblett`s next fight.
Justin Gaethje had previously suggested he might retire if he wasn`t given the immediate next shot at the lightweight title. A win over Pimblett would significantly bolster his case for another title opportunity, potentially leapfrogging other top contenders such as Arman Tsarukyan.
UFC CEO Dana White has remained non-committal on whether Topuria vs. Pimblett will be the next fight for either fighter, which lends some credibility to the possibility of a Pimblett-Gaethje clash at UFC 319. Fans will have to await official confirmation from the UFC to know definitively what awaits “The Baddy.”
