MMA fighter and UFC expert Gastón Reyno gives his prediction for Topuria's next fight: "Destroy Pimblett."

Paddy Pimblett is a strong contender to be Ilia Topuria 's next opponent . When the Spanish-Georgian knocked out Charles Oliveira to win the lightweight belt at UFC 317, the Englishman publicly challenged him , and predictions for a future fight have been swift. Uruguayan fighter and commentator Gastón Reyno is clear on this , and draws a stark distinction between the two.

Topuria took advantage of his first statements as lightweight champion to challenge his future opponents, among whom were Pimblett and Arman Tsarukyan , number one in the ranking, but it was the Briton who stepped into the octagon to face him.

The fight against the Liverpool-born fighter could be Topuria's first defense as a two-time champion, and predictions have begun to pour in. Bookmakers place the Spanish-Georgian as the overwhelming favorite , and Gastón Reyno holds a similar opinion.

"Topuria destroys Paddy Pimblett... there are levels," said the Uruguayan, immediately after the two began their verbal sparring on the octagon, with Ilia newly crowned.

Of course, the Englishman doesn't share the same opinion: "We haven't seen two people dislike each other this much since Conor-Khabib. I absolutely hate him. I want to inflict pain on him. I'd like the fight to last 4 minutes and 50 seconds in the fifth round, and I'd already landed 907 elbows, enough to disfigure his face . I don't want a quick knockout. I want to make him suffer," Piblett said in a recent interview.