Ilia Topuria (Image via Getty)Paddy Pimblett has questioned whether Ilia Topuria can fully recover from the toughest loss of his professional MMA career. The Liverpool-born UFC star believes the former lightweight champion could struggle mentally after suffering a devastating defeat against Justin Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250. The loss ended Topuria’s unbeaten run and marked the first major setback of a career that had previously been filled with dominant victories over some of the biggest names in the sport.Before facing Gaethje, Topuria had built a reputation as one of the most feared fighters in mixed martial arts. He scored impressive knockout victories over Alexander Volkanovski, Max Holloway, and Charles Oliveira in consecutive bouts. However, his momentum came to an abrupt halt at the historic White House event. After enduring four difficult rounds, Topuria was unable to continue due to a serious injury to his right eye. The result has sparked debate about how the Spaniard will respond when he eventually returns to competition.Paddy Pimblett believes Ilia Topuria’s mindset has been affected by defeatSpeaking during an interview with former UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson, Paddy Pimblett shared his belief that Ilia Topuria has never been tested by adversity in the way he was against Justin Gaethje. According to “The Baddy,” Topuria spent most of his career dominating opponents and controlling fights. Because of that, Pimblett feels the former champion may find it difficult to handle the emotional and mental challenges that come with a crushing defeat.Pimblett explained that setbacks can help fighters grow if they have experienced them before. He pointed out that he has faced difficult moments in his own career and returned stronger afterward. In contrast, he suggested that Topuria built much of his confidence around being undefeated and unbeatable. Losing that aura, in Pimblett’s view, could have a lasting impact on the fighter’s mentality.The British star also welcomed the idea of facing Topuria when he returns to the octagon. Pimblett stated that he would gladly accept a matchup against his longtime rival, believing it would be the perfect opportunity to test where Topuria stands after the loss. He also suggested Topuria to fight against Arman Tsarukyan. In addition, Pimblett suggested that Justin Gaethje’s pre-fight comments may have played a role in the outcome. He noted that Gaethje repeatedly predicted the fight would extend into the later rounds, while Topuria seemed convinced he would secure an early finish. Pimblett believes that once the contest moved beyond the opening round, doubts may have started to creep into Topuria’s mind.