UFC star Paddy Pimblett returns to the Octagon at UFC 329 in the early hours of Saturday morning to face Benoit Saint-Denis. The Liverpool-born fighter, known as 'The Baddy,' aims to bounce back from his first defeat since joining the UFC, a loss to Justin Gaethje for the interim lightweight championship. That defeat, his first in seven fights, has only fueled his determination.
Pimblett on Pressure and McGregor
Pimblett told the official UFC site: 'Yeah, that's only pushed me on, losing that fight. And this week I feel no pressure at all, whereas last time I did. I remember saying to my coach just after (the fight) that, before the walkout, before my song came on, I got very nervous, and I never get nervous, so it was weird.' He added: 'It was like I had a feeling I was going to lose. I always say, “What’s the point of being nervous when you know you’re gonna win?” I got nervous, so I obviously knew I wasn’t going to win!'
The presence of Conor McGregor on the same card has shifted some of the media spotlight away from Pimblett. 'The good thing about this week is Conor McGregor's fighting, and all the pressure’s on Conor McGregor. This is the first time in a long time I haven't had so much media coming up this week, and it's probably because McGregor's the main event,' Pimblett said. 'I’m always going to have the spotlight on me, that’s the nature of the beast. But I do feel like I’ve got less pressure on me this time, and I think it’ll show on Saturday night when I go in and beat Benoit Saint Denis.'
Viral Moments and the 'Worst Ever Take'
Despite the reduced scrutiny, Pimblett has still generated viral moments. In one widely shared clip, a reporter asked if he was more nervous about his own fight or England's quarter-final against Norway. Pimblett responded: 'What do you think lad? Something that 11 other fellas are gonna do, or something that I'm gonna do? That was a bad question.'
In another clip, Pimblett laughed off his 'worst ever take'—a prediction he made in 2022 that Liverpool's Darwin Nunez would outscore Manchester City's Erling Haaland. While Nunez left Anfield with a Premier League medal, Haaland has become one of the world's best strikers. Pimblett said: 'That's possibly the worst take I've ever had. Nunez is going to score more goals than Haaland. I'm a believer. I always support my team and I want them to do well. I'm an eternal optimist so I just backed him and he made me look like a right t*t.'
Family Support
Away from fighting, Pimblett is a proud father to twins with his wife, Laura Pimblett. Laura shared a supportive post on Instagram, saying: 'My world. Me and your girls are so proud of you.' Pimblett carries that support with him as he aims for victory at UFC 329.
