Ilia Topuria is currently on an extraordinary winning streak after delivering knockouts to Alexander Volkanovski, Max Holloway, and Charles Oliveira at UFC 317, raising questions about why his next opponent could be Paddy Pimblett. Despite Pimblett holding the No. 8 lightweight ranking and a successful recent run, including finishes over Bobby Green, Tony Ferguson, and Michael Chandler, many are puzzled how he is prioritized above fierce competitors like Justin Gaethje or Arman Tsarukyan—until the history of the intense Paddy Pimblett Topuria beef is understood.

Origins of the Conflict: When Insults Sparked a Fierce Rivalry

The bitter feud between Ilia Topuria and Paddy Pimblett began in early 2021 but initially did not involve Topuria directly. Another Georgian fighter, Guram Kutateladze, had called out Pimblett, who responded with offensive attacks targeting Kutateladze’s Georgian heritage. Pimblett’s hostile reaction quickly escalated tensions.

Just cause that ugly little c—t has tweeted about me means nothing!

Pimblett tweeted regarding Kutateladze’s challenge.

He’s just the first fighter to tweet about me, there’ll be another 3 by the end of the week! I’d finish Guram, pal, it’s that simple. You Georgians are so dumb.

Ilia Topuria soon stepped in, defending his people with sharp retorts online.

Calling others ugly when you are so ugly that I can’t even open your photo because I don’t have the antivirus!

Topuria wrote.

You seem to have a body ready to donate to science!

A Georgian calling someone a bum, funny s—t man!

Pimblett responded.

Tell one of them to f—in’ say something when they see me, but they won’t! Say s— behind your phone screens cause yous are b—hes.

This verbal exchange quickly morphed into a full-scale online flame war, but it was a later tweet from Pimblett that crossed a serious line, igniting deep cultural and historical wounds.

Lad how stupid are these Georgians, man,

Pimblett wrote accompanied by laughing emojis.

No wonder the Russians terrorize their lives.

The Historical Backdrop Behind the Tension

The remarks struck a nerve due to the complex and painful history between Russia and Georgia. Georgia was annexed into the USSR in 1921, and after the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, Russian-backed separatists launched ethnic cleansing campaigns against Georgians in regions like Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The conflict culminated in a 2008 Russian invasion of Georgia, which still scars the nation’s collective memory today.

You think that’s funny?! In that attack by Russia against us, many innocent people lost their lives, including children! The one who supports terrorism and racism is one of them! This tweet will haunt you for life!@PaddyTheBaddy pic.twitter.com/IxRvn6FkXK

—Ilia Topuria

This tweet called out Pimblett directly, confronting him over his inflammatory remarks related to the war. Pimblett later deleted his comments and offered an apology, though it barely quelled the tensions.

I called Guram a ‘fake Russian’ because I thought he looked like he was from Dagestan,

Pimblett explained.

He took offense to it, then I used the same Russia comments to get to Guram. It’s what we do here in Liverpool. Somebody says something to you, you say something back to annoy them more. I don’t know anything about Guram apart from him insulting me. So I did the same back to him and a lot of Georgians took it personally.

I would like the Georgian people to understand that I had no idea about the history between Georgia and Russia. I’m a fighter not a historian or politician. I didn’t know what had gone on. The people seem to think I said it with malice when I had no idea of the past.

I think Ilia Topuria hates me now,

Pimblett admitted.

So it would be nice to fight him the future. But I think I will climb the ranking a lot faster than him.

Topuria’s Personal Pain Fuels His Determination

Topuria later reflected on Pimblett’s remarks with clear bitterness recalling the depth of loss experienced by his people. In March 2022, he shared how the conflict had turned personal.

I read something I think like, ‘Now I know why Russia bombed Georgia. You guys are a bunch of idiots,’

Topuria recounted.

So my reaction to someone taking this like a joke when in that war many innocent people died – we’re talking about children and people who had nothing to do with that … It’s also a painful subject for me because family members of mine died in that war and many countrymen of mine.

If he thinks I’m going to take a step back when I see him, then he’s badly mistaken. He needs to pray that we don’t cross paths because I’ll go crazy.

The Hostile Encounter in UFC London’s Fighter Hotel

The escalating drama spilled into real life at a UFC London event where both fighters competed. The two came face to face in the lobby of the fighter hotel, resulting in a heated near-fight moment after Pimblett reportedly threw a bottle of hand sanitizer at Topuria. This incident earned Pimblett the mocking nickname “Hand Sanitizer Boy.”

Hand sanitizer boy? That’s his name from now on,

Pimblett said during a press event.

His name’s ‘Hand Sanitizer’ cuz it got bounced off his head. He wanted to come at me and try to act bad and got put in his place, lad. I was stood there on me own and there were about six of them and he done nothing. If he wanted to do something he would have come round the table and had a fight with me but he didn’t. He stood on the other side of the table cuz he knows what’s good for him.

Topuria’s Threats and Challenge to Pimblett

Following the confrontation, Topuria boldly declared his willingness to fight Pimblett, vowing to overpower him completely.

Maybe I’m not so tall, but I need just one punch and I can put my balls on his forehead,

Topuria told Ariel Helwani.

So if he gets the win [at UFC London], I really want to fight with him. Even if he doesn’t get the win, I want to fight him. Because of my people, because of me, I want to take his head off. If they give me the chance to be with him alone in a room, I’m going to kill this motherf—er.

This marked a peak in the rivalry’s intensity, as threats escalated beyond social media to potential physical violence inside the octagon.

Ongoing Tensions and Recent Encounters

Since the UFC London clash, the animosity between Pimblett and Topuria has continued to simmer. Another confrontation almost happened at UFC 282, though it was defused before escalating. Most recently, they shared an awkward fist bump at a UFC weigh-in, a brief moment of civility in a rivalry defined by hostility.

We might not like each other, but had a little laugh then,

Pimblett remarked about the rare light-hearted moment.

What Lies Ahead for a Potential Clash

With talk of a high-stakes matchup on the horizon, especially as Topuria prepares for his first lightweight title defense, anticipation is mounting. Fans and insiders expect the rivalry to bring drama worth watching, not least due to the memorable incident involving the hand sanitizer bottle.

It’s in Next Generation Gym, I’ve written on it, ‘Mr. Hand Sanitizer Boy’ and signed it,

Pimblett revealed to ESPN after UFC 317.

I will bring that [to the press conference]. [The value] will increase even more when I finish him.

The two fighters embody more than just competitive animosity — their clash represents personal, national, and emotional layers that add fierce urgency to what may be one of the most intense rivalries on the UFC roster.