Dominick Cruz knew who he’d fight if he were in Ilia Topuria’s shoes.
The two-time UFC Champion says Topuria has three opponents to choose from in his first title defense after knocking out Charles Oliveira at UFC 317.
Following his lightweight title win, the UFC broadcast panned to #1 contender Arman Tsarukyan, Justin Gaethje, and Paddy Pimblett, who all have a different case for a title opportunity against Topuria.
On merit, you could argue Tsarukyan is up for it, as he’s 9-1 since losing to Islam Makhachev in his UFC debut.
However, the UFC isn’t a charity, it’s a business and when it comes to moving the needle, Cruz says there’s somebody else Topuria should fight.
Dominick Cruz: Ilia Topuria vs. Paddy Pimblett ‘just makes sense’
Between Tsarukyan, Gaethje, and Pimblett, Cruz has to go with ‘Paddy The Baddy’.
Pimblett already shares a storyline with Topuria and faced off with the champion in the Octagon, much to the dislike of UFC boss Dana White.
Some fans argue Pimblett doesn’t deserve a title fight because his last win was over Michael Chandler, who has lost his last three fights.
“This thing’s about paychecks at a time,” Cruz said of who should fight Topuria next on the Anik & Florian Podcast.
“We’re prize fighters. We’re not anything else we want to say. We’re all these other things.
We are prize fighters. You put a prize out there, we take the prize. You win it or you lose it.
“Who’s the biggest prize? We all know the answer to this between those three,” Cruz suggested Pimblett.
“So, if you’re smart, if you take that fight, like that guy’s the bag. Now, not to say the other guys aren’t good, but the problem is Paddy, is just that he promotes, he talks, he’s got a very big package.
“It just makes sense to make the most money with that fight. But now with this new [Paramount] deal coming forward, too, does that change the layout of if you care who you fight. Now, are you just looking for the better, easier matchup?” Cruz asked.
Dominick Cruz weighs in on Paddy Pimblett’s chances against Ilia Topuria
Cruz thinks Pimblett would give Topuria a tougher fight than Justin Gaethje.
Gaethje is a heavy-handed striker, with brutal leg kicks that could nullify Topuria’s boxing game. Meanwhile, Pimblett is pretty well-rounded but his world is on the ground grappling.
“I like Paddy,” Cruz said between him and Gaethje potentially fighting Topuria.
“He’s not what he was when he came in here. He has improved. He’s better and I think people forget, like, fight by fight, you really do improve if you get the confidence…
“And he’s gotten the confidence. It’s not like he’s gotten that [loss] that kind of set him back a little.
Like, his confidence has grown. So he stays in the gym, he gets back to training. And when that confidence grows, you’re a hard guy to beat. And he’s got that right now.
“And Gaethje’s the opposite. He’s found his humanity,” Cruz said.
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