Paddy Pimblett's Training Partners Detail Path to Victory Over Justin Gaethje
Paddy Pimblett stands on the brink of UFC interim lightweight glory this Saturday night, with his closest training partners revealing the precise strategy that will see him overcome legendary opponent Justin Gaethje in the UFC 324 main event.
The charismatic Liverpudlian fighter, known as "The Baddy," faces the biggest challenge of his career against former champion Gaethje in what promises to be a blockbuster showdown at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Inside the Game Plan: How Pimblett Will Conquer Gaethje
Nathan Fletcher, who trains alongside Pimblett at Merseyside's renowned Next Gen MMA gym, provided exclusive tactical analysis to The Independent, detailing how his team-mate will approach this crucial championship bout.
"With Gaethje, I can imagine that's the type of fight where because Gaethje's got good anti-grappling, good wrestling and uses his wrestling to keep the fight on the feet, I think that Paddy will have a similar game plan to how he fought Michael Chandler," Fletcher explained.
The emerging UFC talent elaborated on the specific approach: "He'll pick him off, move, kick the legs, beat him up, make him miss, and then cause damage essentially. I think he stops him."
This strategic breakdown suggests Pimblett will employ a measured, technical striking approach rather than engaging in the wild exchanges for which Gaethje has become famous throughout his Hall of Fame-calibre career.
Team Confidence and Future Aspirations
Luke Riley, another Next Gen MMA team-mate who delivered a spectacular knockout in his own UFC debut earlier this year, expressed absolute confidence in Pimblett's ability to not only defeat Gaethje but also eventually dethrone current lightweight champion Ilia Topuria.
"If he fights Paddy, he's getting beat, 100 percent," Riley declared regarding a potential future showdown with Topuria. "I think he just mixes his stuff up a lot better and I reckon he just comes in with a way better game-plan than anyone else who has fought him. Through fight IQ, game-planning and size, that's it."
Fletcher echoed this sentiment while emphasising the importance of focusing on the immediate challenge: "The fight I want to see obviously is Paddy-Ilia. I think that's the fight to make. He has to go through Gaethje first, I think it's another big name, a legend of the sport, another good name for Paddy to take out, and then that will only make the Topuria fight even bigger."
Addressing the Critics: Pimblett's Training Dedication
Despite Pimblett's impressive seven-fight win streak since his 2021 UFC debut, which includes notable victories over Michael Chandler and King Green, some observers have questioned whether his resume justifies this immediate title opportunity ahead of other contenders like top-ranked Arman Tsarukyan.
Furthermore, Pimblett's tendency to gain significant weight between fights has led to questions about his training discipline. Fletcher directly addressed these concerns, offering an insider's perspective on the Liverpudlian's work ethic.
"Paddy's one of those guys who's always in the gym, he's always training," Fletcher revealed. "It might not be what people think because he balloons up after fights, that's just because he likes his food, but he's always in the gym week after week, sparring, training, getting better."
The Next Gen MMA fighter highlighted Pimblett's history of proving doubters wrong: "He has been written off his whole career since he got in the UFC. People have always had stuff to say about Paddy, like he's not this good, or this person will beat him, or his chin's in the air so he'll get caught by this person. And then time and time again, he comes out and proves them all wrong."
The Road to Championship Glory
Pimblett's journey to this interim title shot represents a remarkable ascent in the UFC's competitive lightweight division. His marketability and fan-friendly fighting style have undoubtedly contributed to this accelerated opportunity against one of the sport's most respected veterans.
As fight night approaches, the confidence emanating from Pimblett's training camp suggests they have identified specific vulnerabilities in Gaethje's game that their fighter can exploit. The strategic emphasis on movement, leg kicks, and calculated striking represents a departure from Pimblett's sometimes brawling style, indicating significant tactical evolution.
With both Fletcher and Riley predicting not just victory but a stoppage, the Next Gen MMA team appears united in their belief that Saturday night will mark the beginning of Paddy Pimblett's championship era in the UFC's lightweight division.
