Liverpool-based UFC contender Paddy Pimblett has publicly warned lightweight champion Ilia Topuria that he is ready to “bully” him in the octagon after his beloved club beat Real Madrid, a team Topuria supports.

Pimblett attended his club’s 1-0 win over Real Madrid at Anfield on Tuesday and later posted on social media alongside a picture of him and Reds icon Steven Gerrard: “One of our own … proper scouser … no-show from Ilia Topuria. Where were you tonight? Thought you were a Real Madrid fan? Can’t wait to bully you in the Octagon like the Reds just bullied your team for 90 minutes.”

The warning reignites a long-running rivalry between the pair, which escalated after Topuria won the UFC lightweight title by knocking out Charles Oliveira in June 2025. Pimblett remains a rising star and one of the frontrunners for a title shot, and many believe this grudge match could headline a major event under the UFC’s new broadcast deal.

Pimblett made his UFC debut as a featherweight and has since moved to lightweight, gaining momentum with a recent standout performance against Michael Chandler. His trash talk with Topuria dates back to 2022 when an altercation in a London hotel lobby sparked their animosity.

Topuria, born in Germany to Georgian parents and fighting out of Spain, became the UFC lightweight champion after stepping up from featherweight. He has maintained his position as one of the sport’s top pound-for-pound athletes.

For now there is no official fight announcement between Pimblett and Topuria, but the recent public provocation by Pimblett suggests the path to a grudge fight is gaining speed.