Liverpool’s rising UFC star Paddy Pimblett has reignited his bitter rivalry with lightweight champion Ilia Topuria, taking fresh aim at the Spaniard-Georgian fighter in a scathing interview earlier this week. Pimblett accused Topuria of being “a fake Conor McGregor” and claimed that the UFC is deliberately holding off on booking their long-awaited grudge match.

Speaking with British media, Pimblett doubled down on his belief that Topuria’s success and public persona are built on imitation, saying the champion is “trying too hard to play the superstar.”

“He’s the fakest person ever,” Pimblett said. “Everything about him — his attitude, his trash talk, even the way he walks — it’s all fake. He’s just trying to be Conor McGregor, and it’s embarrassing.”

The war of words between the two dates back to 2022, when the pair nearly came to blows at a fighter hotel in London during UFC Fight Night. Security reportedly intervened as tensions boiled over between the then-prospects, and the animosity has simmered ever since.

Now, with Topuria holding UFC gold and Pimblett climbing toward title contention, the feud has gained renewed significance. Pimblett insists the promotion is dragging its feet in making the matchup happen, suggesting Topuria and his management team are reluctant to risk the belt.

“I thought when he moved up, I’d be his first fight,” Pimblett added. “But they gave him a shortcut to the title instead. Now that I’m calling him out, they’re going quiet. The UFC’s stalling, and he’s fine hiding behind it.”

Topuria, who captured the lightweight crown earlier this year, has yet to respond publicly to the latest round of verbal jabs. Known for his precise striking and fiery confidence, the undefeated champion has previously dismissed Pimblett as “a clown” and “a loudmouth looking for clicks.”

Despite the mutual disdain, fans have long viewed a potential Pimblett-Topuria fight as one of the UFC’s most marketable grudge matches — a collision of charisma, nationalism, and stylistic contrast. Rumors continue to swirl that the bout could headline the UFC’s first Paramount+ event in early 2026, though no official announcement has been made.

For now, the insults keep flying, and the tension between the two continues to build — the kind of slow-burn rivalry that keeps the fight world watching and waiting.