Ilia Topuria has picked a side within the UFC 324 principal event.
The UFC will kick off 2026 on January 24 with its first event under the Paramount banner, and that latest era for the promotion will begin with two title fights.
After Amanda Nunes returns to challenge Kayla Harrison for the undisputed bantamweight title, Paddy Pimblett and Justin Gaethje are set to headline UFC 324 for a newly created interim lightweight championship.
That belt arrives early next yr after Topuria announced his UFC hiatus. With that in mind, the Spaniard will likely be paying close attention as his next opponent is determined in Las Vegas, and ‘El Matador’ has now revealed who he’s rooting for.
- LATEST NEWS: Arman Tsarukyan shares his theory on Ilia Topuria’s UFC hiatus — and it shouldn’t be what fans were told
Rate UFC 324 out of 10 👀
Ilia Topuria has words of recommendation for longtime rival Paddy Pimblett but mocks snubbed Arman Tsarukyan
Topuria finally broke his silence concerning the controversial interim title fight put together in his absence a couple of days on from Dana White’s announcement.
The champion already has a heated feud with the Liverpudlian contender, which was initially expected to establish their title fight in the brand new yr.
Topuria had a run-in with Pimblett while in Qatar for the last UFC event, and plainly ‘El Matador’ is keen to get his hands on ‘The Baddy’ contained in the Octagon.
Seemingly for that reason, Topuria wants Pimblett to win at UFC 324.
“Paddy, win your next fight. Hands up, chin down,” Topuria wrote on X.
The champion also had a mocking message for Arman Tsarukyan following the UFC’s widely criticized decision to snub his title shot claim.
“Arman Petuh, this dance is for you (laughing emojis),” he added, alongside a video of a toddler resembling Pimblett dancing.
- THROWBACK: Paddy Pimblett was warned that he would never develop into UFC champion unless he eliminated one habit
Paddy Pimblett lays out his entire 2026 after victory at UFC 324
While Pimblett still has Gaethje to get through if he’s to have UFC gold wrapped around his waist, ‘The Baddy’ is already looking forward to the remainder of the brand new yr.
The Scouser is confident of getting the job done against ‘The Highlight’ in Las Vegas before unifying the lightweight titles against Topuria within the spring or summer.
Should he achieve that feat and prove those dismissing his championship credentials owing to a record currently absent of top-five competition flawed, Pimblett has his first defense in mind.
Is Paddy Pimblett’s UFC record strong enough to deserve a title shot?
Pimblett reacted by trolling Tsarukyan after the UFC 324 title fight was made, and ‘The Baddy’ says the Armenian must wait until he defends the belt at the tip of next yr to get his shot.
“2026 goes to be the most important yr of my life,” Pimblett said in a video posted by the UFC on X.
“I’m coming for that interim title, then I’ll be making it the undisputed title after I come and beat Ilia Topuria up and take the undisputed title.
“And little posh boy [Tsarukyan] — if he manages to fight in that point, because he likes sitting out and saying he’s got a sore back — if little posh boy fights in that point and keeps his rating, I’ll punch his head in as well,” he added.