Paddy Pimblett insists the UFC should strip Ilia Topuria of his lightweight title if the champion fails to return by July. Topuria is on hiatus dealing with personal issues, while Pimblett and Justin Gaethje contest an interim title this Saturday in Las Vegas.

Pimblett, on a seven-fight winning streak, says he won't endure the long wait fellow Brit Tom Aspinall faced. He expects to become undisputed champion by mid-2026, planning to beat Gaethje, then Topuria, and defend before year's end. The matchup bypasses ranked contenders like Arman Tsarukyan.

With the UFC launching its new Paramount partnership, the promotion opted for Pimblett's star power. A victory would make him Liverpool's first UFC champion. He predicts a decisive win over Gaethje, a brawler he believes will struggle with his grappling. Topuria has targeted an April or June comeback.