The Baddy, Paddy Pimblett, was scheduled to end 2025 with a huge fight. Entering the year, he was riding a six fight winning run and was beginning to silence the doubters. This was only amplified when he faced off with Ilia Topuria, the newly crowned lightweight champion, following the Spaniard’s statement title win.
The two men have history after all. In 2021, Pimblett tweeted Georgian, Guram Kutateladze (and tagged Topuria) saying:
“Lad how stupid are these Georgians man (laughing emojis) no wonder the Russians terrorise their lives (laughing emojis)”.
At UFC London in 2022, the two men got into it at the fighter hotel, where Topuria threw a bottle of hand sanitiser at the Brit. They also got into verbal exchanges during the UFC 282 press conference, despite not being scheduled against each other.
The two men are box office together and would have made for logical dance partners to either end the current UFC PPV model or open up the new Paramount era. It appears, however, that it isn’t to be.
Current Lightweight Situation
The current situation at lightweight seems to be mapped out. 
It appears that Topuria vs Pimblett won’t happen next, rather it’ll be #5 ranked Justin Gaethje to get the shot. Controversial for sure as Gaethje is coming off just one win, against #10 Rafael Fiziev in a rematch, a man coming off two straight losses and an injury. It will also mark Gaethje’s third title opportunity.
#1 Islam Makhachev is set to move up in weight to compete against Jack Della Maddalena.
#2 ranked Arman Tsarukyan is the most inactive fighter on the current UFC roster, however, is booked to clash with #7 Dan Hooker at UFC Qatar in November.
Former champion, Charles Oliveira called out Max Holloway following his dominant victory in Rio this past weekend. It appears that Holloway is keen and we can expect the BMF belt to be on the line when the two inevitably meet next year.
#9 Beneil Daruish is scheduled to meet Benoit Saint Denis in New York next month.
Where does this leave Paddy Pimblett?
Currently ranked #6, Paddy Pimblett is without a fight or a rumoured opponent. There were rumours of a fight between him and Justin Gaethje, however, those rumours have dissipated due to The Highlight only wanting to fight for the belt next.
The only two people in the top 10 that Pimblett could face who isn’t currently booked or rumoured to be booked soon is Mateusz Gamrot and Rafael Fiziev. Gamrot is coming off a convincing loss at the hands of Oliveira last weekend and Fiziev, despite being a dangerous match-up, is injured and ranked considerably lower than Pimblett. The risk/reward for Pimblett in facing Fiziev simply isn’t worth it.
A good fight for Paddy Pimblett would be the winner of Hooker and Tsarukyan. A win over either man would shoot him directly into the title picture and if neither man takes too much damage, there’s a chance we could see a #1 between Pimblett and either Hooker or Tsarukyan as a headline slot in London in March.
Whatever happens, Paddy Pimblett needs to stay relevant, and the only way he’s going to do that is with big fights. He can’t lose the momentum he’s built up.
