Pimblett targeting Topuria or Gaethje fight in October

Paddy Pimblett says he would emotion to conflict Ilia Topuria successful Abu Dhabi successful October but his force is astir apt to beryllium Justin Gaethje.

Liverpool's Pimblett earned a connection triumph complete Michael Chandler past period earlier calling for his adjacent bout to beryllium against an force classed successful nan apical five.

Spain's Topuria faces Brazil's Charles Oliveira for nan lightweight loop astatine UFC 317 connected 28 June aft erstwhile champion Islam Makhachev vacated his loop to move up to welterweight.

American Gaethje doesn't person a conflict booked and is 3rd successful nan UFC's lightweight rankings - 5 places supra Pimblett.

The UFC usually hosts a numbered arena successful Abu Dhabi successful October but a imaginable day for this year's show is yet to beryllium set.

"I'm hoping to conflict successful Abu Dhabi successful October. I deliberation that's erstwhile I'm going to beryllium backmost successful nan cage," Pimblett told BBC Sport.

"I was reasoning Ilia mightiness telephone maine retired if he wins [against Oliveira]. I'd emotion to hit him if he gets nan belt.

"I'd emotion to conflict him anyhow but he's booked, truthful I deliberation it's much than apt Justin Gaethje."

Pimblett has history pinch erstwhile featherweight champion Topuria aft nan brace fought astatine a edifice earlier UFC London successful 2022.

Topuria, 28, vacated his loop earlier this twelvemonth to move up to lightweight, opening nan doorway to a imaginable conflict pinch Pimblett.

Gaethje, meanwhile, past fought successful March pinch a triumph complete Rafael Fiziev - and pinch 20 knockouts from 26 bouts, he remains 1 of nan astir celebrated fighters connected nan roster.

With fourth-ranked Max Holloway facing fifth-ranked Dustin Poirier connected 19 July, nan only different combatant without a conflict booked successful nan apical 5 is Armenia's Arman Tsarukyan, who Pimblett has nary liking in.

"No 1 [cares] astir Arman Tsarukyan and group really want to watch Gaethje fight. People cognize it'll beryllium an breathtaking fight, maine versus Gaethje," said Pimblett.

"Tsarukyan, he's conscionable an absolute tool, and past it's maine and Gaethje.

"One triumph distant and I'll beryllium fighting for nan belt. Yeah, that's ever been nan aim. It's nan only purpose that we have."

Since his UFC debut successful 2021 Pimblett has won each 7 fights and grown into 1 of nan astir celebrated fighters successful nan promotion.

Pimblett has agelong wanted to header a show successful his hometown Liverpool but nan UFC hasn't held an arena successful nan metropolis since 2018, alternatively choosing to put shows connected successful London and Manchester.

Because Liverpool's biggest arena, nan M&S Bank Arena, only has a capacity of 11,000, Pimblett has suggested Premier League champions Liverpool's stadium Anfield arsenic a imaginable venue.

UFC president Dana White, however, has often opted against hosting shows successful stadiums, citing a deficiency of ambiance and imaginable rainfall arsenic nan reasons why.

Pimblett has suggested White should sojourn Anfield to watch a Liverpool crippled to alteration his mind.

"It needs to beryllium Anfield. That's nan only nan only viable spot to do it. And I cognize Dana doesn't for illustration doing stadiums, he's done it successful Australia, but Anfield is different," said Pimblett.

"He needs to travel to Anfield connected a Champions League nighttime aliases erstwhile we play Manchester United aliases thing for illustration that, aliases moreover nan bluish garment [Everton].

"You request to travel and watch because you'd beryllium for illustration 'wow, this is unbelievable'."