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Paddy Pimblett Could Set Up HUGE Fight After UFC 329
With a win at UFC 329, Paddy Pimblett could get a huge next opponent. We take a look at who that might be.
Paddy Pimblett returns to action this weekend in a fight which could potentially either catapult him back into the title picture or present him with one of two huge fights. It won't be easy to get his hand raised at UFC 329 as he stands across from the gritty finishing machine, Benoit Saint Denis, however, the Liverpool native will be more motivated than ever to get back to winning ways in Las Vegas.
Pimblett suffered his first UFC loss last tie out across five rounds to the current lightweight champion, Justin Gaethje and, although he suffered multiple knockdowns in the fight, he was never completely out of it. He battled until the bitter end and although he didn't get his hand raised, there's no denying his heart and determination.
Paddy Pimblett vs...
If Paddy Pimblett gets his hand raised in UFC 329's co-main event, he will inevitably set up a huge fight next. We take a look at the three options of who The Baddy could clash with next, which is most likely and which one he will want.
Paddy Pimblett vs Justin Gaethje 2
There's no denying that Paddy Pimblet vs Justin Gaethje was a great fight. It was a match-up that saw both men leave it all in the octagon, battered and bloodied and do everything they could to capture the interim strap. It would be the American that would walk away the victor, which, on paper, it would seem he did with ease. That wasn't the case in reality.
Pimblett put it on Gaethje throughout the fight, made it hard for him to get his offence off for the most part, and, if Pimblett is to be believed, eye pokes played a huge part in his loss. He did suffer visible damage to the eyes, which could have been a result of eye pokes from Gaethje, however, as we saw in Gaethje's UFC Freedom 250 fight, he holds legitimate power.
Would Pimblett want that one back? Absolutely. The fight now has the added caveat that the American now holds the belt, which means if the two were to rematch next, gold would be on the line. With that being sad, it appears that Arman Tsarukyan is next for the champion, however, we know that the UFC doesn't fully trust Tsarukyan so a Pimblett rematch with Gaethje could be closer than we think.
Paddy Pimblett vs Ilia Topuria
UFC fans love nothing more than a bitter grudge match. When two fighters legitimately hate each other, it brings an added layer of entertainment in both the build-up and the fight itself. Paddy Pimblett vs Ilia Topuria would provide just that.
The two men simply don't like each other. Whenever possible they will throw shade at the other competitor, whether that's on social media, in the press or in person.
The rivalry began between Pimblett and Georgian UFC fighter, Guram Kutateladze on social media. The Brit made remarks about Georgians, their conflict with Russia and mocked the countries past. Being of Georgian decent, this hit a nerve with Topuria and understandably so.
The two men first met at a hotel during UFC London fight week in 2022, quickly becoming physical with each other and ended with them having to be separated after Pimblett hit Topuria with a bottle of hand sanitizer.
Both men competed at UFC 282, where, at the press conference, despite not fighting each other, the two exchanged words, including "You little chorizo" from The Baddy.
Topuria would surpass Pimblett, capturing the featherweight and lightweight titles before losing last time out to Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250. This cements the rivalry as a real possibility. The one sided nature of Topuria's loss suggests that an immediate rematch with Gaethje is highly unlikely. A win over another highly ranked contender is needed before he gets another title shot at with a win at UFC 329, Pimblett could be the highly ranked name he needs. The Brit accused Topuria of quitting on his stool at The White House event, which understandably won't sit well with Topuria.
If the two ever met, it would be box office. There's no denying that they're a match made in heaven from a promotional stand point and even if Pimblett loses in Vegas this weekend, there's still a chance the two men meet in the octagon due to their bitter rivalry.
Paddy Pimbeltt vs Conor McGregor
The careers of Paddy Pimblett and Conor McGregor have always been closely linked. Now that both are competing in the UFC, a fight between the two feels inevitable. Their careers have followed a similar path. Both men became two-weight world champions in CageWarriors. Both men competed at featherweight before moving up and doing their best work at lightweight. Both trash-talk in a comedic manner and are natural rivals with their English and Irish heritage.
Although the two men currently compete in different weight classes, there's every chance that Pimblett moves up a weight class for a McGregor fight with the money that it brings.
A match-up between the two would provide entertainment in the build-up and fireworks in the cage. With contrasting styles, the pre-fight analysis would be fascinating. Pimblett prefers life on the ground, has rudimentary striking skills and has never been knocked out. McGregor is a stand-up fighter, doesn't wrestle often and has legitimate one-punch knockout power. The chance to become the first person to knock out Pimblett could be the carrot that's dangled in front of McGregor and it could be too good of an opportunity to pass.
