Paddy Pimblett: Ilia Topuria 'scared to take the fight' vs. Max Holloway

Paddy Pimblett is accusing UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria of not wanting to fight Max Holloway.

Topuria (15-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) is expected to make his first title defense against Holloway (26-7 MMA, 22-7 UFC), who recently put Justin Gaethje out cold to capture the BMF title at UFC 300.

Pimblett and Topuria were on a potential collision course over two years ago when they got into an altercation during the week of UFC Fight Night 204, in which they both competed against respective opponents. Pimblett threw a hand sanitizer bottle at Topuria before the pair were separated.

Pimblett (21-3 MMA, 5-0 UFC) took the opportunity to reignite the flame with Topuria when he was asked his thoughts on “El Matador’s” fight with Holloway.

“I think I’ve got the same as everyone. Everyone’s picking Max, know what I mean?” Pimblett said on his YouTube channel. “‘Hand sanitizer boy’ is scared to take the fight, doesn’t want to take the fight against Max because he knows what will happen. He fought (Alexander) Volkanovski at the perfect time, coming back off getting knocked out like 10 weeks later. He got lucky there, to be honest.”

Pimblett takes on Bobby Green (32-15-1 MMA, 13-10-1 UFC) on July 27 at UFC 304 (ESPN+ pay-per-view) from Co-op Live in Manchester, England. He has Renato Moicano in his sights and hopes that fight materializes after Green.

“Once I get through Bobby we’ll see what happens with Moicano,” Pimblett said. “Everyone wanted to see me vs. Moicano, so once I beat Bobby let’s see where Moicano’s up to.”