Overview
- On Sunday, Dana White told reporters he “loves the idea” of Paddy Pimblett and Ilia Topuria coaching opposite each other on The Ultimate Fighter but stopped short of approving or scheduling a season.
- The proposal remains unconfirmed and would require formal UFC approval because using active fighters as coaches affects fight dates and title-picture plans.
- Neither Pimblett nor Topuria is officially booked for a next fight, and Topuria’s recovery from facial and foot injuries plus Justin Gaethje’s undecided status create timing uncertainty for any build or matchup.
- A TUF season would need weeks of filming and months of postproduction, which would likely push a head-to-head fight back by many months even if the show is greenlit.
- The rivalry has strong fan demand and pundits say it could return TUF to must-see TV, but the show’s recent decline and the presence of other lightweights such as Arman Tsarukyan mean the UFC must weigh promotional upside against matchmaking logistics.