Rising UFC lightweight Paddy Pimblett is eyeing a pair of big matchups for his next two fights. Pimblett told ESPN's James Regan that he feels a matchup against former UFC BMF and interim lightweight champion Justin Gaethje is on the horizon.

Before Makhachev (27-1 MMA, 16-1 UFC) vacated his UFC lightweight title, he dismissed ex-featherweight champ Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) as his next title challenger. He wasn't interested in defending his belt against another 145-pounder coming up a weight class after two of his four lightweight title defenses coming over Alexander Volkanovski.

Ilia Topuria and Islam Makhachev has gone back and forth on social media over the UFC's recent bombshell announcement.