Paddy Pimblett breaks silence on ‘leaked' next fight as Dana White reveals if he'll make Topuria UFC grudge match next
'MAD' Paddy Pimblett breaks silence on 'leaked' next fight as Dana White reveals if he'll make Topuria UFC grudge match next
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
PADDY PIMBLETT has broken his silence on the supposed leaking of his next fight.
The Brit submission specialist hasn't fought since his demolition job of fellow fan favourite Michael Chandler at UFC 314 in Miami.
Sign up for Scottish Sun
newsletter
Sign up
5
Paddy Pimblett butchered Michael Chandler in their UFC 314 showdown in April
Credit: REX
5
Pimblett has been linked with an August 16 showdown with fan favourite Justin Gaethje
Credit: GETTY
5
'The Baddy' has addressed rumours that he'll be fighting 'The Highlight' next
Credit: GETTY
But middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis seemingly revealed the Liverpudlian would be back in action on the undercard of his UFC 319 title defence against Khamzat Chimaev on August 16.
DDP told Ahmed Amwell during a recent trip to Dubai: "It's gonna be a big card.
"The co-main event is Paddy Pimblett and Justin Gaethje."
Du Plessis' comments spread like wildfire and quickly came to the attention of Pimblett, who didn't mince his words on the matter.
READ MORE UFC NEWS
TOP OF THE WORLD Five fights White can make for Topuria after UFC 317 including Paddy clash
The former Cage Warriors featherweight champion said: "Yous are mad if you think I'm fighting in August."
MMA fans around the world are hoping Pimblett's next fight will be against new lightweight champion, Ilia Topuria
The pair, who have beef dating back to 2021, took part in a heated face-off last weekend following Topuria's brutal first-round KO of Charles Oliveira at UFC 317.
Security had to separate the duo after Topuria SHOVED his long-time nemesis, who revelled in the moment after he left the octagon.
JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS
5
Paddy Pimblett didn't mince his words on a potential fight with Justin Gaethje
Credit: X
5
Pimblett clashed with Ilia Topuria after his UFC 317 KO of Charles Oliveira
Credit: GETTY
Their impromptu face-off has set the table for a grudge match over four years in the making.
But UFC supremo Dana White has seemingly already shot down the prospect of the two stars clashing next.
Ilia Topuria performs shock Paddy Pimblett U-turn ahead of UFC 317 after seemingly squashing beef with Brit
He said: "I don't know who the hell let him in there. That should've never happened.
"Let's start there. I was already back in my room, or that would've never happened."
He added: "(Van) is the No. 1 contender, and I just said the winner of that fight will get a title shot, so obviously the fans wanted it, too.
"My thing with Topuria is his wife and kid are in the octagon.
"That's not the fight. It's just, yeah. It shouldn't happen.
"That's not really what we do. I don't really give a sh*t if it's fun to watch or not. That shouldn't have happened.
"Plus, he wins a second title in a higher division. It was a bad call by whoever let him in there."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
19 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
I took part in Europe's ‘toughest half marathon' on Croatia's sunniest island – and lived to tell the tale
Europe's 'toughest half marathon' takes place on a picturesque suntrap just an hour's ferry journey from Split NEAR AND HVAR I took part in Europe's 'toughest half marathon' on Croatia's sunniest island – and lived to tell the tale Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THEY say you can't run from your problems but as I neared the end of a 20km road race over a Croatian mountain, I was pretty sure that, for once, I had the advantage. The Hvar Half Marathon, billed as Europe's toughest, sees competitors climb some 1,400ft, winding their way up and over a mountain from one side of the picturesque Dalmatian isle to the other. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 10 Will Metcalfe nearing the summit of the Hvar Half Marathon 10 The route begins in Stari Grad before beginning a 9km climb And as relentless as life can be, I was pretty sure that for once the troubles of day-to-day life were almost out of sight. Though not for the faint-hearted, the race is a fantastic way to see the island. A short ferry journey from Split, stunning Hvar is surrounded by crystal clear waters, jagged shores and — for much of my brief stay — cloudless blue skies. As our catamaran approached, the island's jagged outline jutting from the Adriatic Sea set my heart racing. Perched atop a cliff is an imposing fortress dating back to the 13th century, built by the Venetians before being strengthened by Spanish troops some 300 years later and eventually occupied by Napoleonic forces. But it was not the fortifications, nor medieval city walls that caught my eye, it was the height. I would be running, if not scaling, this in just a few days. 10 Split is a one hour ferry ride away 10 The sets out from the narrow streets of Stari Grad As well as giving competitors bragging rights, the race, from Stari Grad on the north of the island to the town of Hvar on the south, offers fantastic scenery taking in woods, lavender fields and unsullied views over the coast. The race itself is a humble event. In 2025 there were 78 entrants and 65 starters from as far as the US, New Zealand, South Korea and Argentina. And of course Scotland — via Cumbria. The small scale allows for a fun atmosphere and the main square of Hvar town becomes something of a party spot with finishers wolfing down plates of carb-laden food and beers, while celebrating each finisher crossing the line. I don't look like a runner. I'm not built for it. I carry weight around my midriff. And I've short legs. Like really short. With my 29-inch inside leg, watching me power uphill past some more physically adept runners was akin to watching a dachshund keep stride with a German Shepherd. But even my minuscule stride, and a 1,400ft ascent, couldn't stop me from coming home in 20th, clocking a two hour time — a mere 12 minutes slower than my personal best — despite the ascent. Proud. Delirious. And incredibly sweaty, I was now ready to relax and explore. 10 Will Metcalfe at the finish line of the Hvar Half Marathon 10 Immediately after crossing the line And while my troubles may not have been able to catch me, even with my tiny stride, one woman put me in my place after making up a 500m gap, stopping to pick a bouquet of lavender and skipping off down the road leaving me for dust. Still, you've got to laugh, haven't you? I stayed in the Amfora Grand Beach Resort — a sprawling complex with sea views a short walk from Hvar town itself. 10 Hotel Amfora in Hvar, Croatia 10 The hotel sits beside a secluded bay On arrival at the port a courier collects your case as you leave the ferry, before the pleasant stroll along the promenade to the hotel. The resort proved the perfect place to recover from my half marathon heroics, with two pools, a gym and a spa at my disposal — and more importantly a well-stocked bar! The island is a perfect playground with amazing cycling, running and sailing on offer along with diving, swimming and plenty of opportunities to soak up the sun. The permanent population of around 10,000 can double in peak season creating a notable buzz. During my visit at the end of May the weather and the crowds were perfect, the island well on its way to awakening after a winter break. And at any time of day in Hvar town you will see locals stopping every 10 or 15 paces to speak to the friends they have grown up with — a mark of an island that has retained its sense of community. For the non-runners, a great way to see the island is to take a tour with a local. Zorana Vrandecic, my guide, is Hvar born and bred and knows the island, and its residents, like the back of her hand. The roads here cling to cliffs, climbing, burrowing and crawling their way around the mountains — giving off a small-scale Amalfi Coast. Being an island, Hvar is rich in seafood with unrivalled freshness and quality. Gregada, a simple stew of fish, stock and potatoes, right, is an island delicacy and a great introduction to the local cuisine. The simplicity and lack of fuss outlines a confidence in the quality of not only the food but the island's way of life. The island has a genuine charm and a rustic, unpretentious take on life. 10 One of the best spots to see Hvar is from the sea A tour of the outlying archipelago offers a different perspective, and with plenty of sheltered spots and bays, offers a chance to take in the crystal clear waters and even enjoy an ice-cold beer under the summer sun. For a change of pace, nearby Split offers the chance to explore the real-life labyrinth of Diocletian's Palace and enjoy a slight shift in pace. The white limestone and marble is striking and lays bare the collision of cultures that tell its story. Founded by the Greeks, conquered by the Romans, the Byzantines, the Venetians, Austro-Hungary . . . you get the idea. Split has seen a lot of change. The old town is built around the walls of Diocletian's Palace and creates a rabbit warren. Taking a walk as the light fades is a great way to drink in the atmosphere of the city but to really get a feel for the place, a guide can breathe fresh life. I stayed in the Heritage Hotel Fermai, a short hop from the ancient city walls and the old town. However, as my guide Marina Bitujanc told me, the beauty of Split is that nothing is more than a 15-minute walk. Whether that's the Port, the beach or the picturesque Marjan Forest Park, which offers fantastic vantage points back towards the Old Town and looking out across the bay to Slatine a popular hotspot for Split residents. 10 A view of Split from the Marjan Forest Game of Thrones fans might recognise Split as Mereen and while there is an abundance of shops and tours, the real sights here are best witnessed away from the crowds — whether that's a coffee at a bar tucked away in a little street, or enjoying an ice cold beer on a quiet spot on the beach under the summer sun. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW GETTING THERE: fly from Edinburgh to Split from £91pp one-way. See STAYING THERE: For the best rates at the 4H Amfora Grand Beach Resort in Hvar see And for the best prices at the 4H Heritage Hotel Fermai in Split see MORE INFO: For more on Hvar see and for visiting Croatia see Split is compact, it has great food, and makes for a fantastic jumping off point to explore the islands of Croatia. The Dalmatian Coast is the perfect spot to forget your troubles — and the good news is you don't have to run across any mountains to do it.
Scottish Sun
19 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
‘You took the game away from me' – Major Wimbledon controversy as new technology FAILS and Kartal rival fumes at umpire
Brit benefits from huge blunder from the technology NOT 'DON RIGHT 'You took the game away from me' – Major Wimbledon controversy as new technology FAILS and Kartal rival fumes at umpire Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE Hawk-Eye live electronic line calling FAILED on Centre Court. And that sparked a furious rant towards the chair umpire in never-seen-before scenes at Wimbledon. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova fumed as she was denied a point when the Hawk-Eye live failed Credit: Getty 4 The Russian accused Wimbledon of favourtism for their home player Sonay Kartal Credit: Getty 4 The incident happened at 4-4 in the first set on Centre Court Credit: BBC 4 The umpire tried to get to the bottom of the situation Credit: BBC Sonay Kartal took on Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the last 16. But the Brit's shot bounced well long at advantage Pavlyuchenkova at 4-4 in the first set. However, there was no call from the live system - even though replays showed it was clearly out. The audio system then declared "stop, stop". READ MORE ON WIMBLEDON Wimbledon 2025 Kartal and Norrie in action NOW as Fritz goes THROUGH after Thompson retires That led to a stoppage as the umpire got on his phone to work out what was happening. And despite the Kartal shot clearly being out, there was no video replay available to the umpire to overrule. Therefore, a let was called, although Pavlyuchenkova should have had the game. Incredibly, to add to the drama, Kartal battled back and won the replayed point and then went on to break at a crucial stage of the opening set. Pavlyuchenkova complained to the umpire when she returned to her seat. She quite rightly moaned: "I don't know if it's in or it's out. How do I know? "How can you prove it? Because she is local, they can say whatever. "You took the game away from me.' Pavlyuchenkova managed to regroup and break back immediately as Kartal served for the first set, even saving a set point. This is the first year of Wimbledon since the tournament ditched human line judges for the AI live system. THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY.. The Sun is your go to destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSunFootball.
Scottish Sun
34 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Queen ‘saw straight through Meghan' & branded her and Harry a ‘catastrophe' in weeks before she died, insider reveals
An insider has revealed the late queens thoughts on the couple NOT IMPRESSED Queen 'saw straight through Meghan' & branded her and Harry a 'catastrophe' in weeks before she died, insider reveals Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE late Queen allegedly branded Prince Harry's relationship with Meghan Markle a "complete catastrophe" in the weeks before she died. An insider has revealed how the late monarch "saw straight through Meghan" in the lead up to her passing in September 2022. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 The queen is alleged to have seen 'straight through Meghan' Credit: Getty 3 Harry and Meghan stepped down from royal duties in 2020 Credit: Getty Journalist and royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith revealed the queens thoughts on her Substack Royal Extras. Bedell Smith previously told how Harry had been rude to his grandmother during a meeting about his wedding with Meghan refusing to reveal details about her death. Bedell Smith said the interaction left the queen "saddened." The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have always claimed their relationship with the Queen was warm despite the rift between them and other senior royals. According to a source, Bedell Smith says, the queen made some strong remarks about the Sussexes at Balmoral just weeks before her death. A group of guests at the Scots castle were alleged to have been privy to some strongly worded comments made by the late queen about Harry and Meghan's union. It came just months before her majesty sadly passed away in September 2022. A source said: "It was out of character for the she saw straight through Meghan. "At the drinks before the dinner, a small group were talking to the monarch and she explained that Harry meeting Meghan had become a complete catastrophe." "By this point we all knew the Queen's health was in decline and she had months left, she seemed regretful about how things had panned out." Harry and Meghan made the Queen's last years a complete misery - they'll NEVER be forgiven At this point the Sussexes had stepped down as working royals and were living in Montecito. When 'Megxit' was announced the late Queen Elizabeth said in a statement: "Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved members of my family." The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped down from royal duties in 2020 and went on to publicly criticise the family in their 2021 Oprah Winfrey interview. The relationship began to break down in the run up to Harry and Meghan's wedding according to insiders. 3 The relationship is alleged to have began to break down in the lead up to the Sussexes wedding Credit: AP In the run up to the Harry and Meghan's wedding at St George's Chapel in Windsor in 2018, the queen is alleged to have said her grandson was "besotted and weak." She also worried that his bride-to-be had manipulated the prince, while getting away with a raft of bad behaviour. The Queen's first cousin is alleged to have said just days before Meghan and Harry's wedding: "We hope but don't quite think she is in love. We think she engineered it all." According to Bedell Smith, when Harry and Meghan announced their plans to step down as working royals in 2020 the queen tried to find a compromise to stop 'Megxit.' The couple said at the time that they were stepping back to gain more financial independence and avoid the prying eyes of the media. Inside Prince William and Prince Harry's 'feud' TENSIONS have been running high in the royal family since Prince Harry stepped down from royal duties in 2020 and relocated to California with Meghan Markle. Their last reported interaction was during the funeral of their grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, in September 2022, but conversations were said to be brief. The feuding brothers reportedly did not speak to each other despite standing 'virtually back to back' among mourners at their uncle's memorial service last year. Growing up, Wills and Harry shared many of the same friends who were part of their close, tight-knit circle. But their relationship took a sour turn after Harry lobbed vile allegations against the Prince of Wales in his memoir Spare - and they are said to have not been in direct contact since the 2023 release. In the book, he claimed William had physically attacked him and knocked him to the floor in 2019 and made insulting comments about Meghan. The Sussexes had also targeted Princess Kate, when Meghan claimed the royal made her cry. The bitter feud was ignited when the Sussexes told Oprah, in their 2021 sit down interview, that certain members of the Royal Family had speculated about Prince Archie's skin colour. It was later claimed the royals were Princess Kate and King Charles, after Harry and Meghan's former pal Omid Scobie published his hatchet-job book Endgame. During the infamous Oprah interview, the duchess also made stinging comments about the Firm and how they handled her mental health struggles. Prince William and Harry's bond then worsened after the Sussexes made a number of accusations against the Royal Family in their 2022 Netflix docuseries. The duke has given subsequent interviews, such as his most BBC chat in May 2025, that have only propelled bad blood.
