At the UFC 282 press conference, tensions escalated between Ilia Topuria and Paddy Pimblett. Topuria accused Pimblett of avoiding him during their previous encounter in London, stating, “He just quit when he saw me coming.” Pimblett retorted, calling Topuria “obsessed” and “irrelevant.” The exchange intensified when Topuria challenged Pimblett to confront him face-to-face, leading to a brief physical altercation before security intervened .

🥊 Khamzat Chimaev and Dricus Du Plessis Engage in War of Words

The rivalry between Khamzat Chimaev and Dricus Du Plessis has reached new heights. After Du Plessis posted a photo of a shark he caught, a fan teased him about his viral moment kissing his coach. Du Plessis responded by referencing Chimaev’s previous attempt to kiss him, saying, “That’s what Khamzat tried, and look how that turned out.” Chimaev fired back, calling the photo “2 dead fish in one photo,” implying Du Plessis lacks energy or fight .​

Du Plessis has expressed his desire to face Chimaev next, stating, “We need to get the title back for the normal people man. This gay [du Plessis] who have the belt. Not normal. First time I’ve ever seen, heard like African gay,” Chimaev said .​

🥋 Carlos Prates Responds to Critics

UFC newcomer Carlos Prates has faced criticism regarding his fighting style. In response, Prates fired back, defending his approach and emphasizing his dedication to the sport. While specific details of his response remain limited, Prates continues to assert his position in the UFC and aims to prove his critics wrong.