​Paddy Pimblett found himself in the rafters of the Puskas Arena in Budapest, invited to join CBS Sports’ build-up to the Champions League final. Standing alongside fellow Liverpool figure Jamie Carragher, he was questioned by Kate Scott about his outspoken disdain for Arsenal fans, and he made his allegiance for the day unmistakably clear. “Forza PSG,” he proclaimed, wishing Paris Saint-Germain would hand Arsenal a 5-0 thrashing, just as they had delivered to Inter Milan the year before. What followed suited Pimblett even more than a simple victory for PSG. As Gabriel missed the decisive penalty high over the crossbar, Pimblett, affectionately known as “The Baddy,” savored his rivals’ heartbreak.
That same sentiment would return to Pimblett a little over two weeks later when he watched his longtime rival Ilia Topuria suffer a stunning upset at UFC Freedom 250 in the White House main event. Justin Gaethje dethroned Topuria, ripping away the Georgian-Spaniard’s lightweight title and undefeated record in a decisive victory that left Topuria hospitalised with two broken orbital bones and a shattered nose. Pimblett, now 31, told The Independent that he’s experienced two major “hate watches” in the past fortnight that ended in triumph for him, though he kept his glee restrained behind a half-smile.
It wasn’t merely Topuria’s downfall that satisfied Pimblett. In the months leading up to the fight, the lightweight contender had faced a barrage of taunts about his own bruising loss to Gaethje at UFC 324. Many observers expected Pimblett to be fast-tracked into a main-event title shot, yet he entered that bout for interim gold as the favourite, while Gaethje was viewed by some as past his prime. The ensuing five-round war produced a bloodied and battered Pimblett, while Gaethje earned the win in a performance that many felt justified his status as the one who could still impose himself on the sport. The appreciation for Gaethje’s showing was mixed, with some fans praising him and others chiding Pimblett for not living up to the hype. A top comment on a viral clip of Pimblett pledging his PSG support read, “Got absolutely schooled by a 37-year-old Gaethje,” as though that should be an insult. By the time Gaethje had blasted Topuria inside four rounds, he had shown once more that defeating him is no embarrassment, even if the path to title glory remains elusive for Pimblett.
“I knew that anyway, you know what I mean?” Pimblett insists. “There was a bit of vindication. But at the same time, I knew how good he was. I had Gaethje to win. Everyone laughed at me, didn’t think that it could happen. But it’s the fight game, lad. Anything can happen.” Pimblett maintains that his confidence did not waver after the loss, a result he attributes in part to an illegal move by Gaethje. He contends that he endured five grueling rounds with someone who is now the undisputed world champion, and he believes the experience only strengthens his resolve and his determination to climb back to the top.