Las Vegas — UFC CEO Dana White isn’t ready to lock in Ilia Topuria’s first lightweight title defense just yet despite growing speculation and a very public faceoff with Paddy Pimblett. Topuria (undefeated) claimed the 155-pound belt with a stunning knockout of Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 in June. Pimblett immediately confronted him in the Octagon, and rumor mills linked the grudge match to January as the UFC launches its new broadcast deal. White, however, isn’t biting.
“We’re always exploring lots of different things… obviously it’s a fun fight,” White told TNT Fight Sports. “But as of right now, no, we haven’t made that fight.