UFC lightweight contender Paddy Pimblett shared his views on the 155-pound division during a press conference on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, ahead of his co-main event bout at UFC 329 in Las Vegas.
Pimblett addressed the public reaction following his unanimous decision loss to Justin Gaethje, contrasting it with the praise Gaethje received after becoming undisputed champion by defeating Ilia Topuria.
“I got wrote off after that,” Pimblett said.
The British fighter expressed frustration with shifting fan perceptions regarding his performance against the current champion.
“Everybody said I got beat by him, an old man.
Then, he goes and does that to Ilia Topuria, and all of a sudden he's the best thing since sliced bread.
This just shows how the goalposts get moved constantly,” Pimblett said.
Pimblett noted that the changing narratives highlight a lack of consistency in how performances are judged.
“I said that after I fought him.
I got more respect losing a fight than I did winning seven in a row in the UFC.
It just shows how mad our fanbase is, doesn't it?” he said.
Reflecting on the divisional standings, Pimblett maintained that Gaethje's championship victory validated his own competitive standing.
“With him winning and becoming undisputed champion, it looks good for me. I said that after he beat me.
I said he was going to beat Ilia Topuria. I said it was fate that he beat me.
It was his destiny. He was going to win the world title at the White House.
I was just in the way,” Pimblett said.
In addition to discussing the championship picture, Pimblett pointed toward potential future matchups beyond his Saturday bout against Benoit Saint Denis.
He called a potential showdown against Conor McGregor a “perfect fight.”
Pimblett also dismissed previous talk of facing lower-weight competitors, referring to them as “fat featherweight.”
He turned his attention to other top-ranked contenders, questioning the activity level of rival athletes.
“You're not a fighter no more,” Pimblett said, targeting Arman Tsarukyan.
When asked who should receive the next lightweight title opportunity, Pimblett expressed uncertainty.
“I really don't know,” he said.
He expanded on his critique of Tsarukyan's recent schedule and choices inside and outside the Octagon.
“I've seen [Gaethje] say in interviews before that he wants to get his revenge on Max [Holloway] and Charles [Oliveira] because they both beat him.
So, it wouldn't surprise me if Max wins. You never know, he could get it.
But how does he just overstep Charles when Charles just dominated him for five rounds? Arman probably is the rightful No. 1 contender, but he doesn't fight.
He's fought once in three years and beat a bum that they call Dan Hooker. He's too busy doing wrestling matches.
So, go and wrestle then, lad. You're not a fighter no more,” Pimblett said.
The Liverpool native also recalled recent sporting events and football rivalries that occupied his time outside of training camp.
“Forza PSG,” he said.
Pimblett shared his satisfaction regarding recent high-profile matchups that went in his favored direction.
“I've had two major hate watches in the past two weeks that have been successful,” he said.
He addressed criticism that his ascent to the upper echelon of the UFC lacked traditional foundational steps, referencing comments that he “got absolutely schooled by a 37-year-old Gaethje.”
Despite the criticism, Pimblett stated he maintained full confidence in his own strategic assessments.
“I knew that anyway, you know what I mean?” he said.
He emphasized that the bout proved his ability to compete directly with the world's best lightweights.
“There was a bit of vindication. But at the same time, I knew how good he was.
I had Gaethje to win. Everyone laughed at me, didn't think that it could happen.
But it's the fight game, lad. Anything can happen,” Pimblett said.
Pimblett further detailed specific moments within his past championship opportunity, alleging an illegal exchange occurred.
“[I went] five rounds with who is now the undisputed world champion, and I made the fight competitive all the way through it.
One judge thought I won two rounds of the five, and I think I only lost the second round because he poked me in the eye and punched me straight after it.
It wasn't even an eye poke, it was an eye gouge,” he said.
He contrasted his own resilience with how other fighters handle adversity during championship rounds, criticizing Topuria's decision to stop fighting.
“I didn't quit on the stool like a little b****,” Pimblett said.
He affirmed his commitment to fighting until the final bell regardless of the physical damage sustained.
“That's how I saw it. If my corner team says we're gonna [stop] the fight, I'm going to say: 'No, we're not.
We're carrying on. We're getting this fight done.'
I will fight with every last breath I have in my body to win this fight, just like I did when I fought him [Gaethje],” Pimblett said.
Looking forward to his immediate opponent, Pimblett dismissed the striking power and speed of Saint Denis.
“I didn't think Justin Gaethje hit that hard, and everyone says he's the hardest hitter that you've ever been hit by.
BSD's slow compared to Justin.
I can't see him hitting me that much, and even if he does, I'll laugh in his face,” Pimblett said.
If victorious, Pimblett indicated readiness to accept any subsequent lightweight opponent presented by the promotion.
“Sound, let's go,” he said.
He also acknowledged the outside difficulties currently facing his long-term divisional rivals.
“He's got a lot of s*** going on outside the cage,” Pimblett said.
