Paddy Pimblett Thanked Justin Gaethje at UFC 330 for Beating Ilia Topuria

If there is one thing MMA fans can count on, it is Paddy Pimblett holding a grudge. The Liverpudlian lightweight has never been shy about voicing his opinions, but his latest interaction had fight fans buzzing.

Crossing paths with reigning lightweight champion Justin Gaethje at UFC 330, Pimblett took a moment to offer some hilarious personal gratitude. The Scouser went out of his way to praise Gaethje for his recent victory over former featherweight king Ilia Topuria at UFC Freedom 250.

“It was nice watching you beat that little c*nt up,” Pimblett told Gaethje, according to a video posted on his YouTube channel.

The blunt comment highlights the deep-seated rivalry between Pimblett and Topuria, which dates back to a hotel room brawl in London back in 2022. While Topuria built an impressive undefeated run before making the jump up to lightweight, his title bid ended abruptly against Gaethje in June. Gaethje put on a striking masterpiece, pushing Topuria until the Spaniard ultimately failed to answer the bell late in the fight.

Pimblett Eyes UFC Gold While Teasing Big News

What makes the interaction even more intriguing is the history between Pimblett and Gaethje. The two faced off back in January 2026, where Gaethje handed the Liverpool native his first Octagon loss via decision to capture the interim lightweight strap. Gaethje (28-5 MMA, 11-5 UFC) has since unified the belt and currently sits as the undisputed king of the 155-pound division.

Meanwhile, Pimblett (24-4 MMA, 7-1 UFC) has put himself right back into the championship picture. "The Baddy" bounced back in statement fashion at UFC 329, executing a quick first-round submission against Benoit Saint Denis. Following that win, Pimblett began calling for a rematch with Gaethje or a long-awaited showdown with Topuria.

While Gaethje has publicly downplayed the interest in giving Pimblett an immediate rematch, the Scouser teased that major fight news is coming shortly. Bumped up to #5 in the official UFC lightweight rankings, Pimblett hinted that fans won't have to wait long to see who he locks horns with next.

Whether the UFC decides to book the high-heat matchup between Pimblett and Topuria or send the Scouser straight into a title fight, Pimblett is clearly enjoying Topuria's setback. For now, he is more than happy to give Gaethje his flowers for doing what he has wanted to do to Topuria for years.