Paddy Pimblett is contemplating his next move in the lightweight division, expressing interest in potentially facing Justin Gaethje to earn a title shot. However, he openly admits that a victory for rival Ilia Topuria in his upcoming championship bout would likely present a significantly more favorable path for his career progression.
Fresh off a dominant stoppage victory over Michael Chandler, Pimblett finds himself in a strong position within the highly competitive 155-pound division. With Ilia Topuria scheduled to challenge Charles Oliveira for the vacant lightweight championship at UFC 317, and key contenders like Dustin Poirier and Max Holloway booked for the BMF title, Justin Gaethje emerges as a potential high-profile opponent for “The Baddy.”
Speaking to UFC broadcast partner TNT Sports, Pimblett shared his strategic thoughts on this possible matchup and his current standing at 155 pounds.
While acknowledging that a fight against Gaethje “would be nice,” Pimblett clearly explained his preference, stating, “It’s probably better if Ilia wins the belt, because he’ll probably call me out and then I could just fight him. Maybe I wouldn’t even fight Gaethje, [and I could] just fight Topuria.”
He elaborated on why this scenario benefits him more: “It’d be far better for my career if Ilia wins because I’d, more than likely, be his first title defense.” This suggests a potentially quicker route to championship gold.
Justin Gaethje himself was hoping his impressive win against Rafael Fiziev in March would secure him a shot at the lightweight title but will now have to watch Topuria and Oliveira compete for the belt instead.
Even if the UFC decides Pimblett needs one more fight before a potential title opportunity, “The Baddy” is eager for the chance to face the former interim champion. He believes this fight would not only solidify his claim for a title shot but also allow him to add another impressive stoppage victory to his record.
Pimblett is confident that defeating Gaethje would guarantee him the next title shot, regardless of who is champion. “I know for a fact if I beat Gaethje, I’m next in line,” he asserted, also making note of Gaethje`s recent tendency to fight opponents positioned lower in the rankings.
Based on his recent performance, Pimblett concluded with a bold prediction regarding a potential clash with Gaethje: “After what I just did to Chandler, I think I finish Justin Gaethje.”
Marcus Blakely