Dana White likes idea of Topuria and Pimblett on The Ultimate Fighter

Dana White has reacted positively to the idea of Ilia Topuria and Paddy Pimblett becoming opposing coaches on a new season of The Ultimate Fighter.

The proposal came from Pimblett, who once again expressed his desire to face Topuria and believes that spending six weeks together on the show would make their rivalry even more intense. The feud between the two dates back to 2022, when an incident involving them took place at a hotel before a UFC event.

White admitted that he likes the idea, but stressed that plans for other fights and title bouts will play a role in whether it can actually happen. The UFC president has yet to confirm either fighter's participation in The Ultimate Fighter or a direct bout between them. Such a match-up, however, would undoubtedly generate huge interest among fans of combat sports.

Topuria has not fought since June, when he lost the UFC lightweight title to Justin Gaethje and suffered the first defeat of his professional MMA career. His corner stopped the fight after the end of the fourth round, with Gaethje being declared the winner by technical knockout.

With no next opponents announced for either Topuria or Pimblett, their long-running rivalry remains one of the most intriguing possibilities for the UFC.