Paddy Pimblett Reflects on Crushing Defeat to Justin Gaethje: ‘He Altered My Face’
Paddy Pimblett is on the road to recovery after suffering a significant defeat against Justin Gaethje at UFC 324. The event marked a special night as Pimblett aimed to claim an interim UFC title but was ultimately outmatched, losing by unanimous decision.
Paddy Pimblett’s Fight Experience
The matchup primarily revolved around striking, with both fighters delivering powerful blows. Leading up to the fight, Pimblett confidently claimed Gaethje “won’t be physically the same” post-bout. Ironically, it was Pimblett who absorbed the most damage, which left his face noticeably altered.
Reflections on the Loss
In a recent video update posted on his YouTube channel, Pimblett reflected on the defeat. He jokingly noted, “I did say before the fight I want to make his face look different. For a couple of days, he made my face look different.” Pimblett described his condition post-fight, stating, “I had big shiners… that was at its worst.”
- Facial injuries included bruising around the eyes.
- Pimblett also mentioned a scratched cornea as a result of eye pokes during the fight.
Despite the physical strain from the bout, Pimblett expressed a positive outlook. “People are feeling sorry for me, but I’m great,” he stated. “In our sport, you can’t win every fight.” He emphasized learning from this experience, even though he hasn’t watched the fight footage yet.
Future Plans for Paddy Pimblett
Pimblett is optimistic about his recovery and is targeting a summer return to the octagon. His goal is to stay relevant in the contender picture. As for Justin Gaethje, the current plan involves a title unification fight against Ilia Topuria.
A Possible Rematch?
Although Pimblett congratulated Gaethje on his performance, he hopes for a rematch in the future. “Congrats to Justin Gaethje. That Justin Gaethje turned up,” he acknowledged. Pimblett added, “There are a couple of things in that fight that pissed me off, but it’s done now. There’s nothing we can change.”
As goals start aligning for both fighters, fans eagerly await what lies ahead for Pimblett following his first UFC loss.
