Paddy Pimblett called for a rematch against interim UFC lightweight champion Justin Gaethje, calling him a “dirty” fighter.
Pimblett was favored to beat Gaethje when they met in the main event of UFC 324 in January in Las Vegas, but he suffered his first loss inside the Octagon when Gaethje pulled off the upset with a unanimous decision win. Although Pimblett showed off his durability by going the distance, Gaethje landed 144 significant strikes, including 120 head strikes, and he knocked the Scouser down twice in the fight. At the end of five rounds, it was Gaethje who had the interim belt wrapped around his waist. His reward for winning the fight is a meeting against UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria in the main event of UFC Freedom 250 in June at the White House. Pimblett, meanwhile, is awaiting his next booking.
During the fight, Gaethje poked Pimblett in the eyes several times, and the Brit still holds a grudge about it. Speaking to iFL TV in a recent interview, Pimblett pointed to the eye pokes as one of the reasons why he wants a rematch with Gaethje. He also confirmed the reports that he is returning at UFC 329 in July.
“I’m gonna be fighting in like 12 weeks or something like that (at UFC 329). I’m gonna be back and someone’s getting muftied. I’m coming back for revenge after I lost my last fight. It’s one of them. Everyone loses and that’s how you learn. It’s how you get better. I probably learned more from losing that fight than winning seven other UFC fights, but I’ll be back better and stronger. And everyone’s gonna see,” Gaethje said (via MMAMania.com).
“I’ve always said it’s in me destiny that I’m gonna be the world champion, and I will. At some point in your career you need a loss to realize stuff, and I think that was that point in my career. And hopefully I get the rematch with Gaethje, I got nothing but respect for him but he’s a dirty bastard poking me in the eyes. So, I really hope we get that rematch someday.”
Paddy Pimblett is Rumored to be Fighting Benoit Saint Denis
In recent days, there have been reports on social media that Pimblett will be facing Benoit Saint Denis at UFC 329. This fight is not yet official, but sources close to Heavy.com confirmed that this fight is in the works. If and when it is officially booked, it will match up the No. 5-ranked Saint Denis with the No. 6-ranked Pimblett in what is a pivotal fight in the UFC lightweight division.
Paddy Pimblett Was Recently Called Out by Mateusz Gamrot
While Pimblett looks to be facing Saint Denis next, he was also called out by fellow top-10-ranked lightweight Mateusz Gamrot. Gamrot is ranked No. 7 in the UFC lightweight division, so Pimblett would be fighting downwards in the rankings if it were booked, but there is no doubt it would be an intriguing matchup between two of the best grappling-based lightweights in the UFC.
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