Ilia Topuria wasn’t too excited to see Paddy Pimblett in Qatar.

Both UFC lightweight champion Topuria (17-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) and Pimblett (22-4 MMA, 7-0 UFC) are in Doha for cornering duties in Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 265 (ESPN+) event at ABHA Arena.

Topuria’s brother, Aleksandre Topuria (6-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC), takes on Bekzat Almakhan (12-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC). Pimblett is there to support two of his teammates. Luke Riley (11-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) meets Bogdan Grad (15-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC), and Shaqueme Rock (12-1-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) fights Nurullo Aliev (10-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC). All three of those bouts take place on the preliminary card.

Pimblett enthusiastically greeted Topuria when seeing him from afar, but the champion wasn’t having it. Check out their encounter in the video below (h/t Alvaro Colmenero).

Finally, Ilia Topuria cross paths with Paddy Pimblett in Qatar pic.twitter.com/LLCGuFpAca

— Álvaro Colmenero (@KOlmeneroMMA) November 21, 2025

Pimblett is vying for a title shot against Topuria after facing off with him after UFC 317. Also in the running are Justin Gaethje, and the winner of Saturday’s main event between Arman Tsarukyan (22-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) vs. Dan Hooker (24-12 MMA, 14-8 UFC).

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Watch Ilia Topuria, Paddy Pimblett cross paths at UFC Qatar