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Paddy Pimblett has fired back at Ilia Topuria, dismissing his claims that Justin Gaethje tampered with his gloves during their recent championship bout. Topuria, who suffered a corner-stoppage defeat against Gaethje, sparked controversy by publicly stating he would ensure officials strictly inspect Gaethje’s gear next time to prevent "anything weird" from being added. Pimblett wasted no time shutting down the cheating allegations during a newly released video.
The popular lightweight contender pointed out that the sport's strict pre-fight regulations make glove tampering nearly impossible under official supervision. "Ilia is trying to say that he had stuff in his gloves, which he definitely never," Pimblett stated firmly. He explained to fans that athletic commissions meticulously watch every fighter get their hands wrapped before they step into the Octagon, adding, "I think Ilia’s just being a sore loser."
While Pimblett strongly disagreed with the accusations, he admitted the drama might actually help Topuria secure an immediate rematch with Gaethje. Officials involved in the event have already confirmed that Gaethje's equipment fully complied with all mandatory rules, yet the online feud continues to dominate MMA headlines. The sharp back-and-forth further intensifies the long-standing rivalry between Pimblett and Topuria as both lightweight athletes position themselves for massive matchups.
