LAS VEGAS – Ilia Topuria says the UFC has been purposely keeping him and Paddy Pimblett apart.
Topuria (12-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) and Pimblett (15-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) were involved in an altercation when they shared the same card in March at UFC Fight Night 204 in London. Pimblett made some comments about the Russo-Georgian War of 2008 which he later apologized for, but Topuria took personally. Their brief altercation at the UFC host hotel in London was quickly separated.
But according to Topuria, the UFC weren’t going to take their chances this time as both fighters compete on Saturday’s UFC 282 main card.
“I don’t really care about that,” Topuria told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a pre-fight news conference. “F*ck him.”
He continued, “I went two days ago to the PI, they take him from the back door. He’s not coming to the hotel. Why? Because he’s scared, so f*ck him. I’m not bully, so if someone is trying to avoid me, what can I do?”
Topuria meets Bryce Mitchell in the main card opener at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, whereas Pimblett co-headlines the event against Jared Gordon. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN2 and early prelims on ESPN+.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 282.