Liverpool's own Paddy 'The Baddy' Pimblett is placing a massive bet on himself as he prepares for the most significant fight of his career against Justin Gaethje at UFC 324. The high-stakes lightweight bout, scheduled for January 24 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, could propel the winner into a title shot.
A Bold Stand-Up Strategy
Despite being renowned for his elite ground game and submission skills, Pimblett is adamant he will not rely on his wrestling against the 37-year-old American veteran. In an interview with TNT Sport, the Scouse fighter laid out his surprising plan. 'I'm going to keep it on the feet,' Pimblett declared. 'There's a blueprint to beat him, Max did it. Everyone underestimates my striking.'
He directly addressed the expectations of fans and pundits, insisting his victory will come from a different angle. 'Everyone thinks I'm going to go in and take him down and it's not. He had an absolute war with [Michael] Chandler and I smashed Chandler. So I know MMA math doesn't work, but you'll see on January 24, when we have a perfect game plan and finish him inside three rounds.'
Legacy on the Line in Las Vegas
This main event clash features two fighters returning from similar layoffs. Pimblett last fought in April 2025, where he delivered a dominant performance to defeat Michael Chandler. Gaethje, a fan favourite known for relentlessly entertaining fights, hasn't competed since beating Rafael Fiziev in March of the same year.
The American holds the number four spot in the lightweight rankings, one place above Pimblett, and is desperate for one final run at the undisputed title that has eluded him throughout his career. A win for Pimblett would be a monumental addition to his resume. 'It's going to be something that lasts forever, part of my legacy,' Pimblett said. 'I'm looking forward to it, I just hope he doesn't retire once I've beaten him.'
Pimblett's Unorthodox Challenge
Pimblett believes his unique style will be a puzzle Gaethje cannot solve in training camp. 'I don't fight like a normal person,' he explained. 'I don't shoot double legs and single legs and fight like a normal person does. I do everything differently. I'm not normal, so he's not going to be able to get a sparring partner that fights like me or hits like me because I'm a weirdo.'
He also feels his perfect UFC record, maintained since signing with the promotion in 2021, is consistently undervalued. 'It's going to be the same,' he predicted. 'When I beat Chandler, everyone was like, 'He's old. He's 2-5 in the UFC.' When I beat Justin, everyone will say, 'He's old, he's about to retire.' It doesn't matter who I beat.'
With current champion Ilia Topuria taking time away from the sport, and top contender Armand Tsarukyan waiting in the wings, an impressive victory for Paddy Pimblett could very well skip him to the front of the queue for a shot at UFC gold.
