Regardless of what happens on Saturday night UFC sophomore talent Paddy Pimblett is bound to steal the headlines. The upstart Liverpudlian came into the UFC with plenty of fanfare and that hype has only increased since then.
Part of the reason for all the excitement is Pimblett’s method of promotion, which includes plenty of puffery and put-downs. Not everyone is enjoying the Paddy Show, though.
Earlier this week Pimblett was confronted by fellow UFC lightweight Ilia Topuria, who was incensed over Pimblett’s comments regarding Georgian fighters. Specifically, Topuria—and many others—have taken umbrage at Pimblett invoking memories of the 2008 Russo-Georgian War, a conflict that killed scores of Georgian soldiers and civilians.