Unfortunately, UFC fans don’t share his enthusiasm.
“Me and Gaethje now for the world title; you know it’s interim, people are gonna say, ‘oh, it’s only the interim,‘ this and that, but I’m fighting for the world title, lad,” Pimblett said (via UFC). “People said I’d never be ranked. People say I’d never do this, never do that. The goalposts are always getting moved for me. Once I finish Gaethje, it’s gonna be, ‘Oh, he was 37, he was retired anyway, he’s on his way out, he’s being handed the title shot,‘ all this bullsh*t. But my first time in the UFC it was, ‘You’re gonna get knocked out by Vendramini. Oh, he’s only beaten journeymen. Jared Gordon beat him. Jordan Leavitt’s going to submit him.’ Then it was, ‘Bobby Green’s going to knock him out. Michael Chandler’s going to knock him out.‘ Now it’s Justin Gaethje. But once I beat him, it’ll be, ’Oh he was old,‘ this and that. So I’m used to it.”
“People think I’m still the same fighter who came in and fought Vendramini back in September of 2021 when I’m a whole different animal,” Pimblett continued. ”First ever time I’ve fought in January, the earliest I’ve ever fought. It’s gonna ruin my Christmas dinner and my birthday because I’m 31, like three weeks before it. But it’s all gonna be worth it when I lift that world title above my head, and ’Paddy the Baddy’ is a world champion — and 2026 is gonna be the biggest year of my life. I’m coming for interim title, then I’ll be making it the undisputed title when I come and beat Ilia Topuria up and take the undisputed title. And then little posh boy, if he manages to fight in that time because he likes sitting out and saying he’s got a sore back. If little posh boy fights in that time and keeps his ranking, I’ll punch his head in, as well.“
