Laura Pimblett, the wife of UFC star Paddy Pimblett, has posted a deeply emotional tribute to her husband following his defeat by Justin Gaethje on Saturday night. The fighter's spouse, with whom he shares twin daughters, took to Instagram to express her unwavering support and pride in the athlete.
Heartfelt Social Media Message
In her Instagram post, Laura Pimblett wrote a simple yet powerful message: 'Forever proud of you. Love you so so much.' This public declaration of affection came after Paddy Pimblett suffered his first defeat in the UFC during an interim lightweight title fight at UFC 324 in Las Vegas.
Visual Evidence of Battle Damage
Accompanying her words, Laura shared several photographs of the 31-year-old MMA star from Liverpool. The images clearly displayed the physical toll of the five-round main event against Gaethje. While many pictures showed Pimblett wearing sunglasses, one particularly revealing image captured the couple sharing a kiss, with Paddy's eyes visibly swollen and discoloured with purple bruising from the intense combat.
Despite the evident injuries, the Liverpool fan favourite appeared remarkably upbeat in the photos. Pimblett was seen smiling, demonstrating a resilient spirit in the face of his promotional setback.
Paddy Pimblett's Gracious Response
On his own Instagram account, Paddy Pimblett addressed the loss with characteristic positivity and sportsmanship. He wrote: 'Hope everyone enjoyed my fight just as much as I did, want to thank everyone that came to support and everyone watching at home.'
The fighter continued: 'I’m all good no injuries went into the fight feeling amazing had a great camp and an easy weight cut no excuses the better man won on the night congratulations brother it was an honour to share the cage with such a legend go get that undisputed title ur career deserves it hopefully we can run it back for the undisputed because I still know it’s in my destiny to win that gold!'
He concluded his message with determination: 'Thank you for the opportunity yous all know I’ll be back for that belt in the near future.'
Technical Breakdown of the Fight
Justin Gaethje, a 37-year-old veteran widely regarded as a legend of the sport, proved too experienced for the British contender at the T-Mobile Arena. Gaethje secured victory in an enthralling five-round battle, though Pimblett had his moments, particularly shining in the first and third rounds.
'The Baddy' was knocked down three times during the contest but displayed tremendous heart by battling through to hear the final bell. The judges' scorecards read 48-47, 49-46, and 49-46 in Gaethje's favour, ending Pimblett's impressive seven-bout winning streak within the promotion.
Post-Fight Reflections from Both Fighters
Speaking after the match, Paddy Pimblett reflected philosophically: 'You live and you learn; I'm 31, I will be back better. You haven't seen the last of me.' He added: 'I wanted to be walking away with that belt. I know how tough I am and I don't need to prove that to anyone.'
Pimblett paid respect to his opponent, stating: 'There is no man I'd rather lose to than [Gaethje]. He is someone I loved watching growing up and it shows why he is a legend.' Regarding the scoring, he commented: 'I think 48-47 was a fair scorecard. I won't lie, he hit me with a body shot in the first round and it got me. I thought I was winning the round up to that point.'
Justin Gaethje also shared his perspective on the challenging bout: 'Paddy is right - Scousers do not get knocked out!' The American veteran explained his strategy: 'I knew I had to put him on his back foot. He is very dangerous and has great timing. I had to steal his momentum and confidence.'
The combination of Laura Pimblett's public support and her husband's gracious response highlights the personal and professional resilience within the MMA community following high-profile contests.
