Paddy Pimblett may leap straight again into title rivalry with a win over Benoit St. Denis at UFC 329, particularly after a five-round struggle with future light-weight champion Justin Gaethje in January.
Regardless of the loss, Pimblett proved he can stand up to the very best of the very best at 155 kilos, and contemplating he survived 25 minutes with Gaethje whereas Ilia Topria could not get previous 4 rounds, it simply provides one other checkmark to his column. That being stated, Pimblett has brazenly acknowledged that the UFC will probably want a win on Saturday and not less than yet one more win to get him again within the struggle in opposition to Gaethje.
As for different potential belt contenders, Pimblett scoffed at strategies that he ought to take into account Arman Tsarukyan, who has been out of motion since October 2025 on an prolonged break ad infinitum, for the title.
“He must struggle,” Pimblett stated at Wednesday’s UFC 329 media day. “He fights about as soon as each three years and wins in opposition to a fully loopy opponent. He wants to really struggle. He cannot go round sporting a swimsuit that tickles individuals.”
Pimblett was, after all, referring to Tsarukian’s latest win, which got here in opposition to Dan Hooker in a lopsided efficiency that gave him his fifth straight win general. He additionally took goal at the truth that Tsarukyan’s largest actions will happen within the RAF fairly than the UFC, which is the middle of the freestyle wrestling promotion.
In actual fact, Tsarukian will compete within the Royal Air Pressure occasion in Georgia on Saturday, then return to america the place he’s scheduled to face Colby Covington in Milwaukee per week later. Nonetheless, none of these fights befell within the UFC, and Pimblett’s largest gripe with Tsarukyan is at any time when he’s talked about as a high light-weight contender.
“(Struggle) anybody. Simply struggle anybody,” Pimblett instructed Tsarukyan. “Get within the Octagon and really struggle. Do not stroll round consuming meals on a non-public jet.”
As for his personal struggle, Pimblett is assured he’ll dispatch Saint-Denis on Saturday and take the mandatory steps to in the end conflict with Gaethje once more sooner or later.
Pimblett stated he discovered a helpful lesson from that first struggle: “Do not go to battle with Justin Gaethje,” however he additionally is aware of there have been mitigating components that labored in opposition to him that evening.
“I am not going to make use of that as an excuse, however the poke within the eye actually modified the sport,” Pimblett stated. “The harm to my face was brought on by a puncture to my proper eye.
“It wasn’t only a poke within the eye. It felt like his thumb touched my mind. So it was somewhat heavy. I used to be blind for about two rounds after that.”
Nonetheless, Pimblett praised Gaethje for his win and for popping out within the match and defeating Topuria to win the undisputed title. Now, he is hoping to land a second blow to Gaethje within the close to future.
“Clearly with him successful and being the undisputed champion, that looks as if a great factor to me,” Pimblett stated. “After he beat me, I stated I used to be going to beat Ilia Topria. I stated it was his future to beat me. It was his future to win the title within the White Home. I simply stood in the best way.”
