Paddy Pimblett Told to Take Immediate Five-Year Break After UFC 324 Defeat
Liverpool's own Paddy Pimblett has been advised to step away from the octagon for an extended period following his recent setback in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. The popular fighter, known as 'The Baddy', fell short in his first attempt at UFC gold, succumbing to a decision defeat against American veteran Justin Gaethje at UFC 324 for the interim lightweight title.
Tsarukyan's Blunt Assessment
Pimblett's rival, Arman Tsarukyan, did not mince words in his post-fight analysis of the Liverpudlian's performance. The Armenian fighter, who many believed deserved the title shot himself, watched from the sidelines in Las Vegas as Gaethje dominated the contest. Tsarukyan suggested Pimblett should consider a lengthy hiatus from competition to protect his long-term health.
"[Paddy] needs to take a break for 5-6 years after that fight," Tsarukyan told Ariel Helwani. "He got dropped like 15 times, so bad for his brain. He was stupid. Now he's going to be crazy after this fight."
Scathing Criticism and UFC Future
The criticism didn't stop there. Tsarukyan went further, questioning Pimblett's place in the organisation altogether and delivering some of the most scathing remarks heard in recent MMA circles.
"I would like UFC cut him out," Tsarukyan declared. "Bulls*** guy. Worst UFC fighter. ... He's so bad. He's not – I'm saying like real, right? If you give me like, give me Paddy, I would play. I would like, I think, during the fight, I'm going to decide what I should do, knock him out, or choke him out."
Tsarukyan added that he enjoyed watching Gaethje dominate Pimblett, stating: "I was enjoying every moment when Gaethje clipped him. He's a bitch. He doesn't deserve to be there, you know? That's why I was like, I was happy because now UFC can see why they put the trash can there."
Pimblett's Response and Ranking Position
Despite the brutal defeat and subsequent criticism, Pimblett maintained his position in the UFC lightweight rankings, holding steady at number five. The 31-year-old showed resilience in his post-fight comments, acknowledging the loss while vowing to return stronger.
"You live and you learn; I'm 31, I will be back better," Pimblett stated. "You haven't seen the last of me. 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. There is no man I'd rather lose to than [Gaethje]."
The Liverpudlian fighter admitted Gaethje's body shot in the first round affected him significantly, saying: "I thought I was winning the round up to that point." He described the 48-47 scorecard as fair while paying tribute to his opponent's legendary status in the sport.
Looking Ahead in UFC
As Pimblett returns to the drawing board to rebuild his championship aspirations, the UFC calendar continues with another major event. Alexander Volkanovski will defend his featherweight title against Diego Lopes on Saturday 31 January at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia.
The event schedule for UK viewers includes:
- Early prelims beginning around 10pm GMT on Saturday
- Regular prelims starting at 12am GMT on Sunday
- Main card commencing at 2am GMT on Sunday
UK fans can watch the main card on TNT Sports, with early and regular prelims available on UFC Fight Pass. The timings remain subject to change based on undercard duration.
