Paddy Pimblett can sell a fight, but can he save The Ultimate Fighter?
The long-running UFC reality television show competition recently wrapped its 34th season, a fact that may have gone unnoticed by the majority of fans who no longer follow the show as religiously as they might have in the past. TUF was once one of the UFC’s signature programs, with the first season frequently being credited as having helped boost mainstream interest in the promotion, and subsequent seasons shining a lot on future champions and stars while also helping to build fights via its coaching rivalries.
However, the series has lost much of its luster in recent years due to Dana White’s Contender Series also acting as a talent showcase, and the overall frequency of UFC events. Pimblett’s proposal to reignite interest in TUF would see him coach against longtime rival Ilia Topuria with the two eventually facing off in the octagon in a highly anticipated lightweight matchup.
“I’d love to do The Ultimate Fighter,” Pimblett said in a clip on social media. “I remember a couple of years ago, [Renato] Moicano saying to do The Ultimate Fighter with me. That would have been great television, but now I would love to do The Ultimate Fighter with Ilia Topuria.
“I would have his head in the shed for six weeks. He wouldn’t know where to look, he wouldn’t know what to say, I’d have him feeling awkward constantly.”
Pimblett and Topuria have feuded for years, though the timing never made sense for them to fight one another with Topuria previously focused on conquering the featherweight division and Pimblett making his way up the lightweight ranks. However, Topuria eventually moved up to 155 pounds, winning a vacant title by defeating Charles Oliveira and subsequently dropping the belt to Justin Gaethje. Pimblett rebounded from his first UFC loss by submitting Benoit Saint Denis in just 52 seconds at UFC 329, so the stars seem to be aligning for him and Topuria to actually fight.
And if they butt heads on TUF first, Pimblett thinks the show could see its biggest numbers since TUF 10, when Rampage Jackson and Rashad Evans had an intense coaching feud on a season that also featured street fighting sensation Kimbo Slice.
“Me and Ilia would bring the ratings back to The Ultimate Fighter, like Season 10 with Rampage and Rashad,” Pimblett said. So yeah, if you’re going to do a season of The Ultimate Fighter and you want coaches who are actually still fighting, because the last few haven’t, do me vs. Ilia and we’ll bring The Ultimate Fighter back.
“It’ll be a reincarnation.“
