Standing as possibly the biggest English star in the UFC right now, Paddy Pimblett has crashed through the lightweight division since arriving in the promotion in 2021. Accruing a perfect 7-0 record inside the fabled Octagon, as well as an overall nine-fight winning streak, the Liverpool native has risen from a stellar prospect to full-blown contender. Headlining the company’s first event of 2026, UFC 324, Pimblett will contend for the interim 155-lb strap when he tangos with the most deadly opponent he has ever faced in his combat sports career, Justin Gaethje.
In the annals of the lightweight categories’ history, there is perhaps no fighter more revered in terms of raw entertainment than Gaethje. Throughout his almost ten year tenure with the UFC, the aptly nicknamed “The Highlight” has logged finish after electrifying finish, starching other legends of his weight class like Edson Barboza, Tony Ferguson and Dustin Poirier. The Trevor Wittman competitor has also worn the interim title at one point, taking hold of the belt at UFC 249 after brutally stopping Ferguson before falling to then undisputed champion Khabib Nurmagomedov later that year.
Coming off a massive knockout victory over previous Bellator lightweight king Michael Chandler at UFC 314, Paddy Pimblett has proven that he has what it takes to topple championship-caliber adversaries. Now just a punch away from scoring organizational gold for the first time, “The Baddy” will attempt to carry his name even further in the realm of mixed martial arts as the clear next man in line to challenge current 155-lb kingpin Ilia Topuria sometime in 2026.
Paddy Pimblett’s Finishes Ranked
5. Paddy Pimblett vs. Kazula Vargas
Serving as one of the main attractions of UFC Fight Night 204, Paddy Pimblett made his way back to his old stomping grounds of England in what was his second bout in the promotion. Riding a wave of hype after winning his debut, the Scouser was greeted with much fanfare upon his arrival to the cage, where Kazula Vargas was waiting for him.
Coming up through the Mexican regional circuit, Vargas had already recorded three contests in the UFC by the time of his match with Pimblett, winning just one of those scraps, with his lone triumph coming against Rong Zhu.
Taking his opponent down, the European found little difficulty in snatching Vargas’s neck, successfully finding the rear-naked choke for a thrilling first-round submission. Basking in the roar of the home crowd, Pimblett also walked away from the event with a profitable Performance of the Night bonus, making it two in a row after receiving one also after his debut fight.
4. Paddy Pimblett vs. Jordan Leavitt
Four months following his amazing showing over Vargas, Pimblett’s next Octagon assignment would come once more in his native England at UFC Fight Night 208. Taking another main card slot, “The Baddy” locked horns with reputable grappling whizz Jordan Leavitt.
Boasting just a single loss prior to his journey across the pond, Leavitt had already become a recognized potential prospect at lightweight when he delivered a sickening slam knockout against Matt Wiman at UFC Vegas 16. Other than that stoppage, “The Monkey King” had garnered a bevy of submission victories, taking out six of his then ten wins via tap out, making him seemingly more than a match for Pimblett on the ground.
The American proved this point during the early phases of the match by racking up an amazing amount of control time against his opponent, collecting nearly five minutes of control time and landing more total strikes. Showcasing his own adept ability in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, however, Pimblett managed to create an incredible comeback by stopping Leavitt in the second round with another rear-naked choke to the cheers of his countrymen.
3. Paddy Pimblett vs. Luigi Vendramini
After a decorated stint in the vaunted European promotion Cage Warriors, winning their featherweight championship while securing one title defense, Pimblett traveled to compete in the United States for the first time when he received the call to fight in the UFC. Already touted as a future star for the organization due to his in-cage charisma and his impressive stint in Cage Warriors, he was swiftly added to the UFC Fight Night 191 event in 2021, opening up the main card festivities opposite Luigi Vendramini.
Earning his own placement on the UFC roster in 2018, Vendramini had built up a magnificent resume in his native Brazil. A winner of eight straight tilts, with all of those ending in finishes, “The Italian Stallion” had a fair bit of momentum behind him. His run in the company, though, had yielded middling results, going 1-2 in his first three matches, taking losses to Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos at welterweight and Farès Ziam.
While the bout was clearly set up to give Pimblett the chance to shine on the biggest stage in combat sports, the Liverpool favorite was shockingly rocked by a stiff punch from Vendramini early in round one. Recovering just in time, however, “The Baddy” delivered his own barrage of hard blows, knocking out the Brazilian in a wild comeback. The victory stood out as possibly the most noteworthy of the entire show, with Pimplett receiving much praise from the mixed martial arts community for his toughness and funny post-fight interview, saying that he was a Scouser, and that they don’t lose by knockout.
2. Paddy Pimblett vs. King Green
Following a blistering warpath through the lightweight division over the last three years, Paddy Pimblett got the chance to contend for his own place among the top of his weight class at UFC 304. Standing just outside the rankings at the time of the card, the European accepted a high-stakes matchup with easily one of the most experienced competitors in the UFC ever, King Green (formerly known as Bobby Green).
By the time of his meeting with Pimblett, Green was already well underway in his professional career with over 20 contests. A veteran who once fought under the Strikeforce banner, the Californian was brought over to the UFC when the latter purchased the former in 2012. Making his debut with the promotion in 2013, the Pinnacle MMA representative has traded attacks with more than a few legends of the sport like Clay Guida, Edson Barboza, Dustin Poirier and Islam Makhachev.
Given the extensive amount of bouts under his belt, along with his unorthodox striking style, many thought that Green posed a serious threat to the unranked Pimblett. In one of the more surprising and ill-fated decisions of his career, however, the American opted to try and take down Pimblett, giving the second degree BJJ black belt the opportunity to lock in a tight triangle choke that put him to sleep nearly instantly. In nearly an instant, Pimblett had snagged his first ranking while taking virtually no damage, putting himself on a direct line for more high-profile scraps and the belt.
1. Paddy Pimblett vs. Michael Chandler
Now firmly settled into the top 15 at lightweight, Pimblett was ready to start his conquest towards the championship. For his first scuffle in the rankings at UFC 314, the Englander faced off with a man who was also beloved by the mixed martial arts fanbase for his electrifying style and personality, Michael Chandler.
Hailed for his time as a champion in Bellator, where he was seen as the face of the entire organization for a time as their 155-lb champion, Chandler bested more than a few of the top contenders on the planet, such as Patricky Pitbull and Eddie Alvarez, winning the strap against the latter in 2011. Making the jump to the UFC in 2021, “Iron” almost captured another major championship in his clash with Charles Oliveira before succumbing to the Brazilian by knockout. Since that fight, Chandler’s tenure with the promotion had seen its ups and downs, holding a then UFC record of 2-4.
On paper, his dust up with Chandler was expected to be a massive test for Pimblett, as he had never met anyone with the level of pedigree or punching power that the American had possessed. Chandler also held a perceived advantage in the grappling area due to his time as a division one wrestler. Passing the test with flying colors, Pimblett drowned Chandler with pressure, taking him down while busting up his face with ground-and-pound. Getting the knockout in the third round, “The Baddy” had all but secured his position for a likely future title contest or number one contender pairing, setting the stage for his main event showcase at UFC 324 opposite Justin Gaethje later this month.
Can you see Paddy Pimblett getting another finish next weekend at UFC 324?
