A chance encounter with a giant advertisement on a London bus serves as a fitting metaphor for the journey of Paddy 'The Baddy' Pimblett. The larger-than-life UFC star, grinning down from the side of a double-decker, is a ubiquitous face of British sport. Minutes later, the man himself is more subdued, fresh from a whirlwind press day but no less focused on the monumental task ahead: his first UFC title shot.
From the Kop to the Octagon: Pimblett on Salah and Scouse Pride
Before discussing the battle in Las Vegas, Pimblett's mind, like many from Liverpool, is partly on Anfield. The future of Mohamed Salah was a pressing concern at the time of our interview. Pimblett's loyalty to his club is unwavering, but his analysis is blunt.
"We'd really like him to stay, of course," he states, before addressing the tension the Egyptian's contract saga created. "But he shouldn't have done what he done. He made the club look silly, he made himself look silly, made the manager look silly, made everyone look silly." He hopes for a resolution and a return to form, but the episode clearly rankles with the devoted fan.
The Road to Gold: Facing Highlight-Reel Gaethje
Football talk soon gives way to fighting. On Saturday 24 January 2026, at UFC 324, the 31-year-old Scouser puts his undefeated UFC record on the line against the legendary violence of Justin Gaethje. The prize is the interim lightweight championship.
Pimblett leaves no room for doubt about what that belt means to him. "When I win this belt, I am the best lightweight in the world. I don't give a f*** what anyone says," he declares, referencing the inactivity of the formal champion, Ilia Topuria. "The champ is not active, so while he's out, I'm the champ."
His 37-year-old American opponent, Gaethje, is a former interim champion himself, famed for his brutal knockouts and thrilling fights. While many see Pimblett's elite grappling as the key to victory, 'The Baddy' has other ideas.
"It's not an easy fight, but it's an easy fight to prepare for," he explains. "I'm not coming in just to grapple... I'm gonna out-strike him and try and knock him out. If it comes down to it, if his chin really is that good, then I'll take him down." His confidence is absolute, treating the outcome as a foregone conclusion.
Unfinished Business: The Simmering Topuria Grudge
A victory would logically set up a unification bout with the reigning champion, Ilia Topuria—a fight dripping with genuine personal animosity. The feud dates back to a hotel confrontation in 2022, where Pimblett famously threw a bottle of hand sanitiser at the Georgian-Spaniard.
While Topuria has recently suggested the bad blood has cooled, citing mutual respect as family men, Pimblett quickly sets the record straight. "I still hate him," he says with a smile. "And I know he still hates me. We still want to batter each other, but that's in the cage. Family is different."
He draws a clear line between personal insults and family, asserting that inside the Octagon, anything goes. "He can call me a blonde b***h all he wants, and I can call him a little sausage. That's not bringing families into it, is it? So, it's all good." The potential blockbuster fight remains a powerful motivator.
From a face on a bus to the brink of UFC glory, Paddy Pimblett stands at the threshold of history. On January 24th, in Las Vegas, he intends to seize his moment, win the gold, and silence any remaining doubters. UFC 324: Gaethje vs Pimblett streams live on TNT Sports and discovery+ in the UK.
