Paddy Pimblett Admits to Considering Retirement Before Stunning UFC 329 Victory

UFC lightweight Paddy Pimblett wants to become a champion, and considered retirement if he couldn't defeat Benoit Saint-Denis.

Paddy Pimblett Admits to Considering Retirement Before Stunning UFC 329 Victory

Paddy Pimblett considered retirement before UFC 329 win (Image via UFC News)

The co-main event of UFC 329 ended with Paddy Pimblett submitting Benoit Saint-Denis in the very first minute. The matchup had high stakes because only one of them would advance into the title picture. The loser had to put on another winning run before attaining a title shot.

Only after UFC 329 did Pimblett reveal that he had much more at stake when he faced the French lightweight star. ‘BSD’ had a four-fight winning streak before the bout, and the oddsmakers had him as a slight favorite at -145. Meanwhile, Pimblett was the underdog at +125.

Fans and fighter have always doubted the British star despite always showcasing confidence like a prime Conor McGregor. It turns out that Pimblett wants to win a UFC gold more than anything despite his status as a top star in the promotion. To that end, ‘The Baddy’ considered retirement if he were to lose the UFC 329 bout against Saint-Denis.

About four weeks ago, five weeks ago, I was like, ‘If I don’t win this fight, what’s the point in fighting anymore?’ I might as well retire. If I can’t beat BSD then what’s the point in fighting? If I can’t beat BSD I’m never gonna be world champ. And that’s what I do this for. I do this to be the best in the world.

Paddy Pimblett via UFC YT Channel

‘The Baddy’ also cited Justin Gaethje upsetting Ilia Topuria at UFC Freedom 250 as motivation to win the UFC gold. Earlier this year at UFC 324, Pimblett and Gaethje fought a war for the promotion’s first event on Paramount+. The back-and-forth encounter ultimately saw the American fighter emerge as the winner, which left Pimblett emotional.

A potential loss to Saint-Denis would have pulled Pimblett further from a title shot as the lightweight division is really stacked. Arman Tsarukyan is someone fans consider as the next deserving title challenger.

Meanwhile, Topuria is still at the top of the division. As such, ‘The Baddy’ needed a statement performance at UFC 329. No one has submitted BSD in the very first round, and a performance like that really keeps Pimblett in the title picture.

The sport needs fighters like Paddy Pimblett. After McGregor’s injury at UFC 329, the promotion needs star power now more than ever. As such, the British fighter competing against the top contenders at lightweight becomes a must-watch spectacle moving forward.

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Paddy Pimblett expected everything that Benoit Saint-Denis would throw at him

In the stacked lightweight division, Benoit Saint-Denis is definitely a contender. He has stoppage wins over Mauricio Ruffy and Dan Hooker in the UFC. The French fighter brings forward pressure and high-pace offenses to overwhelm his opponents.

Paddy Pimblett calls out Benoit Saint-Denis (via X)
Paddy Pimblett talks Benoit Saint-Denis bout (via X)

Fans have witnessed BSD start the fight on the feet and use pressure before initiating his wrestling. The bouts against Ruffy, Hooker, and even Dustin Poirier back at UFC 299 showcased this strategy of the French fighter.

It turns out Paddy Pimblett carefully observed the fighting style of BSD, and was waiting for the takedown attempt to trap the Frenchman with a submission attempt. ‘The Baddy’ admitted that he couldn’t believe his luck when BSD played into his trap.

I literally said what I was gonna do this week and he still shot in and he still got choked. His last 4 fights within 20 seconds he throws a high kick and a backhand and shoots in so I knew it was coming.

Paddy Pimblett via Full Send MMA

This encounter at UFC 329 also showcased the evolution of Pimblett as a fighter. He has a good mix of striking, wrestling and submissions, but not elite at any of them. Mixing them up according to the opponent is something Pimblett has always showcased. As such, opponents will be vary of the former interim lightweight title challenger moving forward after showing his tactical side.

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