Paddy Pimblett Clears Air About Rumored Justin Gaethje Title Eliminator at UFC 319

Paddy Pimblett deny rumors about fighting exciting lightweight star Justin Gaethje as co-main event to Dricus Du Plessis' title defense.

Paddy Pimblett Clears Air About Rumored Justin Gaethje Title Eliminator at UFC 319

Paddy Pimblett pours cold water on recent fight rumors (Source: X)

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Paddy Pimblett is among the top competition 155-pounders, making a clear case to be Ilia Topuria’s first title defense. However, post-fight after UFC 317, the champ stated he and other willing contenders need to log a divisional win to merit a chance at fighting him.

Suddenly, UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis rang some bells, saying ‘The Baddy’ had a PPV co-main event assignment against ranked lightweight Justin Gaethje on August 16, United Center in Chicago, Illinois. A booking between Pimblett and Gaethje would be sensible for a No. 1 contender fight.

It seems like alternate plans for actual top seed Arman Tsarukyan’s return to the Octagon remains devised by the UFC brass. A retirement threat was issued by Gaethje if he doesn’t receive a title opportunity. Moreover, Tsarukyan was given the backup role at UFC 317 despite fumbling previous title shot.

Gaethje is yet to address the rumors from the middleweight champion. However, No.8-ranked Paddy Pimblett sternly denied talks of a potential fight against Gaethje. It is not a case of ducking, but because it was already July and Pimblett hasn’t even started his training camp yet.

Yous are mad if you think I’m fighting in August.

Paddy Pimblett via X (@PaddyTheBaddy)

As of now, the UFC litigation hasn’t announced anything about such a Gaethje vs. Pimblett booking for UFC 319. After the heated faceoff at UFC 317, UFC CEO Dana White refuted the notion that Paddy Pimblett facing the champ was the matchup to make next. So it’s quite up in the air who meets whom.

While not all that beneficial or an easy sell right now, ‘The Baddy’ could also take the rivalry to Charles Oliveira right now, after his recent comments. A matchup and subsequent win against the recent title challenger Oliveira would greatly propel him in that direction. Pimblett has expressed a wish to fight a veteran name like Charles Oliveira before as well.

Charles Oliveira lost fair and square despite brutal criticism from Paddy Pimblett

Ilia Topuria’s second championship strap was secured by a first-round KO of former titleholder Charles Oliveira in the UFC 317 PPV main event. Topuria cleared space and landed a “KOTY” candidate clean right hook on ‘Do Bronx’, followed by a left hand, as Oliveira was on his way down from the impact.

Paddy Pimblett doesn't hold back in his criticism of "amateur" Charles Oliveira after UFC 317
Paddy Pimblett doesn’t hold back in his criticism of “amateur” Charles Oliveira after UFC 317 (Source: X)

Scouser Paddy Pimblett, who eyes Topuria’s crown, had some choice words on how Oliveira could have avoided this devastating loss. Topuria won the then-vacant UFC 155-pound title hardware after Islam Makhachev relinquished it for his own move up to welterweight.

After his stunner over Charles Oliveira, “El Matador” got a bit pushy and took the challenge to Paddy Pimblett. However, notwithstanding that or designs to bag gold, but from a more peer perspective, the Brit laid into Charles Oliveira’s title losing performance.

Pimblett has lauded Oliveira’s prowess during their respective lightweight courses and has repeatedly alluded to the prospect of a potential bout. But after UFC 317 PPV, Pimblett’s admiration for Oliveira’s accolades took a major blow.

The criticism comes off as unwarranted as the Brazilian superstar previously took the best shots of Justin Gaethje, Dustin Poirier, and Michael Chandler without facing a knockout defeat. Gaethje, Poirier and Chandler has a combined 46 knockouts on their resume but couldn’t KO Oliveira.

Meanwhile, Ilia Topuria brutally knocked out Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway in 2024, something no other featherweight fighters can do. Volk was fighting well until Topuria caught him, and Holloway went blow for blow. Oliveira could have used a full-on grappling-based strategy, but everyone saw Topuria defending the takedown well.

Moreover, in the striking exchanges, ‘Do Bronx’ landed a perfectly timed elbow strike that didn’t even stun the Georgian-Spanish fighter. Pimblett calling Oliveira as an ‘amateur’ may come back to haunt him if he cannot back up his words and conquer the ‘El Matador’ when they eventually fight.

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