Some big names are split when it comes to Ilia Topuria’s chances of a successful comeback.
The Spaniard is currently in a recovery period after suffering the first loss of his mixed martial arts career at the UFC event on the White House lawn.
Topuria was brutally beaten by Justin Gaethje in the UFC Freedom 250 main event, bringing an end to his lightweight reign almost a year after he knocked out Charles Oliveira in Las Vegas.
The result was so shocking that some believe ‘El Matador’ will never be the same again.
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Joe Rogan is confident Ilia Topuria will return better than ever, but Paddy Pimblett thinks differently
Paddy Pimblett mocked Topuria soon after his first MMA loss in Washington, DC.
‘The Baddy’ is among those to have gone back and forth with the Spaniard in the past, and he was quick to jump at the chance to laugh at the June 14 result.
That continued in a recent interview on Demetrious Johnson’s YouTube channel, during which Pimblett suggested that Topuria will never be able to return to the same heights after the devastating setback.
“He’s always been the hammer. He’s never been the nail,” Pimblett said.
“That’s why after that fight with Justin that I had (at UFC 324), I knew I could come back stronger and better, because I’ve done it before.
“I don’t think Ilia Topuria ever comes back the same. His whole mantra, his whole ego… ‘I’m undefeated, no one can beat me,’ having celebrations before the fight…
“I just don’t think he will be the same.”
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Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
Joe Rogan, however, disagrees with that assessment.
Speaking to Taylor Sheridan on a recent episode of the Joe Rogan Experience podcast, the UFC color commentator backed Topuria to become an even better fighter after his first setback.
“I am a giant Ilia Topuria fan,” Rogan said. “I think he will be back better than ever.
“Sometimes a loss is one of the most important things a fighter can ever have because they realize you can be beat. You need to know that you’re a human.
“You can’t just throw caution to the wind sometimes,” he continued. “Sometimes you have to be a little bit more…
2026-06-25 04:30:00
