Newly crowned UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria returned to Madrid this week after his first-round knockout of Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 extended his perfect record to 17-0. Speaking at a press conference, the Spain-based Georgian said he would gladly defend his belt against both Islam Makhachev and Paddy Pimblett on the same night and repeated earlier claims that he could have an event in Spain as soon as next weekend if it were up to him. Topuria’s remarks intensified an already heated rivalry with Pimblett. The Liverpool fighter, who confronted the champion in the octagon moments after UFC 317, said in separate interviews that he “hates” Topuria and would like to “disfigure” him, adding that their feud is the most genuine animosity the promotion has seen since Conor McGregor faced Khabib Nurmagomedov. While Pimblett positioned himself as the logical first challenger, Topuria dismissed other contenders. He labelled former title challenger Arman Tsarukyan “much easier than Paddy” and reiterated that moving to welterweight for a bout with current champion Makhachev is “totally viable”. The UFC has not announced the champion’s first defence, but the mutual hostility and growing public interest make a Topuria-Pimblett clash increasingly likely.