Paddy Pimblett gives bleak update on injury, delayed UFC return

Paddy Pimblett isn't expecting to be back in the UFC Octagon any time soon.

By: Milan Ordoñez | 5 months ago
Paddy Pimblett gives bleak update on injury, delayed UFC return
Paddy Pimblett gives an update on his foot injury | Imago | ZUMA

Paddy Pimblett had an active 2022. After a successful UFC debut a year prior, “Paddy the Baddy” went on to fight three times in the past year, winning two consecutive stoppages against Rodrigo Vargas and Jordan Leavitt before eking out a controversial decision win over Jared Gordon in December at UFC 282

But in a recent interview with Sky Sports, the 28-year-old Liverpool native says he may be out for a while because of the injury he sustained in the Gordon fight. 

Paddy Pimblett gives a status update on his injury

Pimblett injured his right foot during the Gordon fight, and it was severe enough to require surgery. His doctor deemed it to be a multi-ligament strain, which according to Pimblett, was “a lot worse” than they initially perceived. 

“Last fight, I hurt my foot in the first round, in like the first minute or two, threw a kick, hurt it,” he said (quotes by MMA News). “I felt it, like, but we crack on, we get through the fight. At the end of the fight, I remember going back to the medical room and being like, ‘My foot’s sore.’ 

“Couldn’t get it looked at properly until I got home. Then, when the actual swelling went down, I didn’t know if I needed to get surgery. It was a lot worse than we thought. I had to get inner and outer-ligament surgery, like reconstruction, so, it’s big.”

Paddy Pimblett expects to be out for a while

Because of his injury and the required recovery time, Pimblett isn’t expecting to see action for a while. His worst-case scenario would be sitting out the entire year. 

“Could be another six weeks. I’ve already been on them for six, six and a half… I’ll be lucky to fight this year.”

What’s next for Paddy Pimblett?

Because of the controversial end of the Gordon fight, Paddy Pimblett (20-3) wants to run it back. In a video he uploaded on his YouTube channel in March, he issued an angry callout to his previous opponent in his hospital bed. 

“I’m gonna punch his head towards the end of the year,” Pimblett said of Gordon. “I am gonna run it back. I hope he beats Bobby Green, ‘cause I’ll snap his arm for him in a round. Had a boxing match with him, and I still won. ‘Cause you’re shit.

“I hope he watches this. You’re f—ng dogshit. At my worst, you couldn’t beat me at your best. Injured, everything going wrong. You couldn’t beat me on my worst day, and I beat you on your best. ‘Cause you’re a little bum.”

Gordon fights Bobby Green (soon to be referred to as simply ‘King’) this weekend at the UFC Vegas 71 at the APEX. 

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About the author
Milan Ordoñez
Milan Ordoñez

Milan Ordoñez has been covering combat sports since 2012 and has been part of the Bloody Elbow staff since 2016. He’s also competed in amateur mixed martial arts and submission grappling tournaments.

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