If Paddy Pimblett has the chance to jump the queue and avoid a title eliminator against Justin Gaethje, Michael Bisping says he’d be more than wise to take it.
The UFC’s lightweight title picture remains one of the most prominent talking points following what unfolded at International Fight Week in late June. Headlining UFC 317 in Las Vegas, Ilia Topuria knocked out Charles Oliveira to claim the vacant crown left behind at 155 pounds by the welterweight-bound Islam Makhachev.
In the immediate aftermath, Topuria faced off with bitter rival Pimblett, potentially setting up that grudge match for the Spaniard’s first defense. But Gaethje will no doubt have something to say about that, having threatened to retire if he is overlooked.
Some have suggested the simple solution is to have Pimblett and Gaethje fight for number one contender status. One of the Scouser’s fellow countrymen, though, thinks ‘The Baddy’ should do what he can to dodge that booking.
Michael Bisping says Justin Gaethje could be the first to beat Paddy Pimblett in the UFC
During a video uploaded to his YouTube channel, Michael Bisping broke down the current state of things in the lightweight title picture following Topuria’s crowning on June 28.
Bisping has thrown support behind Pimblett’s claim to a shot owing to the legitimate heat between the Spaniard and the Brit.
Part of the reason for that stance is seemingly the ex-middleweight champ’s belief that the opportunity for that highly anticipated fight could slip away if the UFC were to match ‘The Baddy’ up against the dangerous Gaethje.
“Paddy Pimblett vs. Justin Gaethje…now we don’t know the situation here,” Bisping said. “Gaethje’s talking about, ‘Listen, I want a title fight or I’m gonna walk, I’m gonna retire.’
“If you (Pimblett) get an opportunity to jump the line and fight Ilia Topuria, you should take it. If he goes up against Justin Gaethje, there’s a good chance he loses that fight.
“I’m not underestimating Paddy. I’m not s——- on Paddy. I’m just saying that Justin Gaethje is one of the greatest lightweight fighters we’ve ever seen.”
Paddy Pimblett has already rejected one ‘leak’ about the potential Justin Gaethje fight
With Bisping’s thoughts in mind, he might have been a little worried when Dricus du Plessis appeared to leak Gaethje vs. Pimblett for the co-main event of the UFC 319 pay-per-view on August 16.
But while the South African’s status as headliner for that event left many believing his claim, ‘The Baddy’ was quick to shut it down on social media.
“Yous are mad if you think I’m fighting in August,” Pimblett wrote on X.
With that in mind, Pimblett’s next step remains up in the air, as the UFC decides who to call with the assignment of being Topuria’s first lightweight title challenger.