Ilia Topuria had his new nickname absolutely trashed by old rival Paddy Pimblett.
‘El Matador’ the UFC Featherweight Champion is no more. Following his recent decision to change divisions, Ilia Topuria relinquished his title as well as his nickname.
Looking to create a new legacy at 155lbs after knocking out Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway, Topuria announced last month he now goes by ‘La Leyenda’, which translates to ‘The Legend’ in Spanish.
Thought to be premature to some, not everybody is on board with Topuria’s decisions as of late.
Owner of the one of the most recognizable names in MMA, Paddy ‘The Baddy’ Pimblett has had a couple of heated run-ins with Ilia Topuria over the years, calling him ‘Hand Sanitizer Boy’ when he pelted him with a bottle in a hotel altercation in 2022.
Later that year at UFC 282 press conference, Pimblett called Topuria a little ‘chorizo’ which translates to ‘sausage’ in Spanish.
“That’s what he should have changed his name to,” Pimblett said of Topuria on The Full Send Podcast.
“He’s changed his nickname to a s*** nickname, hasn’t he? Like legend or something.
“Should have changed it to ‘El Chorizo’…
“Thought it would be well for ya,” Pimblett added.
Paddy Pimblett brutally honest on Ilia Topuria beef
Pimblett and Topuria have been going at it for years now, their rivalry simmering down at this year’s UFC London when Pimblett offered the Spaniard a fist bump.
The fighters first got onto each other’s radar in 2021 after Pimblett made offensive remarks about Georgians in now-deleted Tweets. Topuria didn’t take to it kindly as he was raised in Georgia.
Looking back on his beef with Topuria now:
“We always knew he was a good fighter,” Pimblett said of the UFC Featherweight Champion.
“That’s sort of what pisses me off about him.
“Even though I hate him and I think he’s a b******, I wouldn’t lie and say he’s a s*** fighter because he’s not.
“He called me fat. I said, lad, you can’t make your weight division anymore that you are champion of, and you’re trying to call me fat. He’s a midget. He’s tiny. He’s smaller than Michael Chandler.
“See what I do to Michael Chandler next Saturday night when I dismantle him. It’ll be a very similar game plan to beat Ilia,” Pimblett claimed.
Paddy Pimblett takes on former Bellator Lightweight Champion Michael Chandler in the co-main event of UFC 314 in Miami.
