Paddy Pimblett has weighed in on Justin Gaethje’s championship run after their interim title clash at UFC 329.
Pimblett faced Gaethje on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in an interim title bout, losing by unanimous decision. Gaethje’s win over Pimblett then set him up for a fight against undisputed champion Ilia Topuria, whom he went on to defeat by TKO (retirement).
Speaking at a pre-fight news conference on Wednesday ahead of UFC 329, Pimblett reflected on how fans reacted to his loss. “I got wrote off after that,” he said. “Everybody said I got beat by him, an old man. Then, he goes and does that to Ilia Topuria, and all of a sudden he's the best thing since sliced bread. This just shows how the goalposts get moved constantly.”
Pimblett also pointed to the way Gaethje’s success has changed the narrative around their fight. “... I said that after I fought him. I got more respect losing a fight than I did winning seven in a row in the UFC. It just shows how mad our fanbase is, doesn't it?”
Looking at Gaethje’s undisputed title win, Pimblett sees an upside for himself. “With him winning and becoming undisputed champion, it looks good for me. I said that after he beat me. I said he was going to beat Ilia Topuria. I said it was fate that he beat me. It was his destiny. He was going to win the world title at the White House. I was just in the way.”
