“El Matador” has spoken … and he didn’t hold back.
U.K.-based mixed martial arts (MMA) star, Paddy Pimblett, suffered the first loss of his Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) career in UFC 324’s main event last night (Sat., Jan. 24, 2026) inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, getting battered over five grueling rounds by now two-time interim Lightweight champion, Justin Gaethje (watch highlights).
The loss snapped Pimblett’s nine-fight win streak and halted what had been the biggest momentum push of his career, as a victory would have almost certainly earned him a massive title unification bout.
Pimblett’s long-time archenemy and reigning UFC Lightweight champion, Ilia Topuria, wasted no time reacting to the result on social media, delivering a ruthless message aimed squarely at “The Baddy,” but also took a shot at Gaethje as well.
“Little sausage, the only thing you had to do was beat a 38-year-old guy,” Topuria wrote. “You just lost the biggest paycheck of your life. You were going to get rich if you won. Justin, all I can say is congratulations… and I’d like to tell you to get ready, but you’re screwed no matter what.”
For now, Topuria gets the last laugh.
