Things might have turned out differently for UFC star Paddy Pimblett had he not tasted defeat early in his career.
Pimblett has continued to climb the lightweight ladder ever since arriving in the UFC four years ago. He’s stayed undefeated in the promotion through seven fights to date.
‘The Baddy’ has collected an impressive five performance bonuses thus far, including in his two recent dominant displays against King Green and Michael Chandler. After choking out the former on home soil in 2024, Pimblett ran through Michael Chandler at UFC 314 this past April, elevating him to No. 8 in the rankings.
With that, the Scouser has his sights firmly set on a title crowning that he’s long predicted for himself. But Pimblett’s commitment to glory in MMA wasn’t always so strong.
Paddy Pimblett considered ‘swerving’ MMA until his first loss
On the weekend of UFC 205, where Conor McGregor knocked out Eddie Alvarez to become the first-ever simultaneous two-division UFC champion, Pimblett defended his Cage Warriors gold against Julian Erosa in London.
Speaking to MMA Junkie ahead of that performance, the then-promising prospect reflected on his successful start to life inside the cage.
At the time, Pimblett had won eight straight since losing his fifth fight in the sport. While the result was a disappointment at the time, ‘The Baddy’ might not have stayed in MMA long enough to fulfill his potential had he not suffered defeat when he did.
“I left college, went pro, but even when I went pro I was thinking about swerving MMA because I wasn’t earning enough,” Pimblett said. “It was getting me depressed, and then I lost, and it lit a fire under my arse.
“I wish I didn’t have that loss but, at the same time, it was the best thing that ever happened to me.
“At the time I was coasting and went into that fight thinking I’d already won it. That just showed me that you’ve never won a fight until you go in there and get your hand raised.”
Paddy Pimblett claims to know how to beat undefeated Ilia Topuria
In order to reach his goal of becoming lightweight champion in the UFC, Pimblett may need to go through one of his most bitter rivals.
‘The Baddy’ has gone back-and-forth with Ilia Topuria for years, ever since a near-brawl between the pair at the fighter hotel before a UFC event in London.
That’s set the stage for their future showdown, and while everyone has fallen in front of Topuria’s power to date, Pimblett expects to be the exception.
“I know I’d beat him,” Pimblett said during a conversation with Tom Aspinall.
“Funny ‘cause I get laughed at for it. But I know I beat him. We’ve already talked about a game plan to beat him. And I know how to beat him.
“No one goes for his weaknesses when they fight. Everyone just decides to have a boxing match with him. I’m not going to come out and have a boxing match with him,” Pimblett added. “I’m going to beat him with my all-around MMA game.
“As I said, I know I’d beat him up. And I reckon I’d proper hurt him and just shut everyone up even more, like I love to do.”
A few results will need to occur before Pimblett gets his chance to prove those words correct.
First, Topuria will need to beat Oliveira at UFC 317 on June 28 to become champion. Beyond that, ‘The Baddy’ is expected to require a victory over a top-five lightweight contender to stake his claim for a first title shot.