“People made fun of my arms and called me ‘Miss Man.’ It wasn’t until I got older that I realized: these people are idiots. I’m fabulous,” Ronda Rousey once shared, recalling the body shaming she endured. While body shaming has long been a part of MMA, it has escalated to new levels this year, particularly after UFC President Dana White confirmed Ilia Topuria’s move to the lightweight division. White stated, “Topuria feels he’s done all he can in the featherweight division,” signaling that the reigning featherweight champion could no longer make weight.
However, since his transition to 155 lbs, scrutiny over his size has only intensified, with UFC Lightweight champion Islam Makhachev and ex-champ Khabib Nurmagomedov dismissing his move by calling him “little,” and “smaller.” Adding to the controversy, Ilia Topuria’s longtime rival, rising UFC lightweight star Paddy Pimblett, has not held back in taking shots at him. Their feud dates back to a heated altercation at a London hotel in 2022, and even years later, they continue to trade insults on social media. ‘Baddy’ recently mocked ‘El Matador’s size, using words like, “midget,” and “dwarf.”
Despite these claims, many doubt Ilia Topuria’s size for the division. Former UFC Heavyweight Brendan Schaub recently challenged this narrative during a Q&A session on his YouTube channel, Thiccc Boy. Schaub defended the Spanish export, saying, “Topuria’s not that small. I know that’s the narrative, that he’s this tiny guy, but he’s really not. 145 was a tough cut for him, that’s why he moved up to 155. Topuria’s not—I hate to tell you—he’s not that tiny. Now, Paddy’s fucking massive for 155. So, Paddy’s a big 155. Paddy could probably fight at 170, eventually. But Topuria is not a small 155. It’s not like that.”
MMA: UFC 298-Volkanovski vs Topuria Feb 17, 2024 Anaheim, California, USA Ilia Topuria celebrates his championship victory against Alexander Volkanovski during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Anaheim Honda Center California USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xGaryxA.xVasquezx 20240217_gav_sv5_163
Since making his mark in the UFC, Ilia Topuria has been a dominant force in his division, remaining undefeated in his professional MMA career. According to the UFC’s official site, he stands at 5’7″. However, any concerns about his size were put to rest after his emphatic victory over Max Holloway, who stands at 5’11”. The flyweight striking prowess allowed him to dismantle ‘Blessed’, proving that he can handle opponents with similar size advantages. ‘El Matador’ has consistently defeated larger opponents throughout his career.
In 2022, Ilia Topuria made the leap to lightweight, taking on the 6’1″ Jai Herbert—who stands even taller than Paddy Pimblett, also listed at 6’1″—and knocked him out stiff. Despite enduring body shaming, ‘El Matador’ hasn’t held back in firing back at his critics. With the ongoing tension between these two rising stars, it’s clear that Topuria has no intention of letting this rivalry end anytime soon.
Ilia Topuria slams Paddy Pimblett over disrespect to his homeland
“He posted [something] like, ‘Now I understand why Russia destroyed Georgia because you’re dumb,’” Ilia Topuria said, expressing his anger over a comment from Paddy Pimblett that still haunts him. “It makes my blood boil. When I saw it, I was shocked. I couldn’t believe it. In 2008, I was living in Georgia during the war. It was a very difficult time for me, my family, my friends, and my country.” The Georgian export reflected how the Scouser had once disrespected his homeland by making light of the war with Russia—a conflict that claimed the lives of countless innocent children and women.
The tension between the two fighters reached its peak when they crossed paths at UFC Fight Night 204 in London, where their long-standing animosity over an old post on X led to a heated confrontation. This altercation, fueled by past remarks, escalated after a phone call where they arranged to meet face-to-face. Although Paddy Pimblett later apologized for his previous comments, Ilia Topuria, now the featherweight Champion, made it clear that the sting of that disrespect still lingers.
In a candid interview with Full Send MMA, Ilia Topuria took aim at Pimblett’s hype, stating, “His hype was like a fleeting moment… Don’t even compare me to that bum. We are on entirely different levels. He said something like, ‘Now I understand why the Russians put the bombs in Georgia,’ and so many kids died in that war. When you joke about something like that, just be sure we never cross paths because I’m going to take your f—- head off.”
What are your thoughts on Brendan Schaub’s comments? Do you think Ilia Topuria is the “midget” people say he is? Also, let’s not forget that top-ranked lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan is also 5’7″. Feel free to drop your opinion below.
The post “He’s Not That Tiny” – Ex-UFC Vet Debunks Narrative on Ilia Topuria After His Lightweight Move appeared first on EssentiallySports.