Paddy Pimblett: 'I don't think Ilia Topuria ever comes back the same'
· Yahoo Sports
Former two-division champion Ilia Topuria suffered his first career defeat at UFC Freedom 250, losing the 155-pound championship to Justin Gaethje. The fight ended at the conclusion of the fourth round with Topuria's corner throwing in the towel.
Following the fight, Topuria was transported to the hospital and it was revealed he suffered facial fractures and a broken nose. Lightweight contender Paddy Pimblett doesn't think "El Matador" will ever be the same.
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"It's just Gaethje gets you into that dog fight, drags you into it. You know what I mean? And Ilia's never had that. Ilia's never had to come back from adversity. Ilia's only ever been the hammer. He's never been the nail," Pimblett said on MIGHTYcast. "I don't think Ilia Topuria ever comes back the same.
"His whole mindset, his whole like ego, you know what I mean? Like he is like, 'I'm undefeated. No one can beat me.' Having celebrations the night before the fight. I just don't think he'll ever be the same. He's never had to come back from nothing like that. I've had to face adversity before," continued Pimblett.
"Nothing can prepare you for it. That's the thing. And that's why I think he'll never come back the same. Nothing can prepare you for it. But we'll find out what sort of man he is if he does come back and when he does come back because as I say, I've been there before. I've been beat. You know what I mean? And I've had to come back stronger every time. And I have done. He's never been beat. He's never had to do this before. He's going to have to look at himself in the mirror and be like, 'What? I've just got my head smashed in. I need to come back.' And you never know. He might not have the cojones to do it."
“The Baddy” faces No. 5 ranked Benoit Saint-Denis in the UFC 329 co-main event on July 11 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and hopes to rebound from the loss to Gaethje.