Paddy Pimblett would love the possibility to battle Justin Gaethje to earn a title shot, however Pimblett is well-aware that if Ilia Topuria turns into the light-weight champion in June, he could not must battle once more.
Pimblett, who’s coming off of a dominant stoppage win over Michael Chandler at UFC 314, is in a fantastic spot within the UFC’s hardest division. With longtime rival Topuria shifting as much as 155 and combating Charles Oliveira to crown a brand new champion at UFC 317, and with Dustin Poirier and Max Holloway being set to battle at UFC 318 for the BMF title, Gaethje can be the odd man out to probably face him.
Chatting with UFC broadcast companion TNT Sports, Pimblett reacted to that attainable matchup, and his place at 155.
“Yeah, that’d be good [to fight Gaethje],” Pimblett mentioned. “However I used to be desirous about it the opposite day: It’s in all probability higher if Ilia wins the belt, as a result of he’ll in all probability name me out after which I may simply battle him. Perhaps I wouldn’t even battle Gaethje, [and I could] simply battle Topuria. …
“It’d be much better for my profession if Ilia wins as a result of I’d, greater than probably, be his first title protection.”
Gaethje hoped to get his quantity referred to as to battle for the light-weight title following his win in opposition to Rafael Fiziev at UFC 313 in March, however sadly he’ll have to look at Topuria and Oliveira battle it out as an alternative.
Even when the UFC needs Pimblett to battle yet one more time, “The Paddy” would love the chance to face the previous interim champion to show he deserves a shot on the title — and desires to notch one other stoppage win as well.
“I do know for a truth if I beat Gaethje, I’m subsequent in line [no matter who is champion],” Pimblett defined. “It might be [my next fight], it’s simply if he says sure or not, as a result of he’s combating down the rankings once more. …
“After what I simply did to Chandler, I believe I end Justin Gaethje.”
