Paddy Pimblett and the ‘hate watches’ that fuel his UFC redemption story

Paddy Pimblett was in the rafters of the Puskas Arena in Budapest when he was invited onto CBS Sports’s build-up for the Champions League final. Stood beside another one of Liverpool’s own in Jamie Carragher, he was asked by Kate Scott about his vocal scorn for Arsenal fans, when Pimblett made his allegiance for that day clear. “Forza PSG,” he declared.

He wanted Paris Saint-Germain to inflict a 5-0 demolition on Arsenal, just like they did to Inter Milan a year earlier. What transpired was even sweeter for Pimblett. As Gabriel blazed his decisive penalty over the crossbar, there was no doubt that Paddy “The Baddy” was basking in his rivals’ heartbreak.

This would be a familiar feeling for Pimblett just over a fortnight later as he watched his bitter, long-term rival Ilia Topuria stunned by Justin Gaethje in the main event of UFC Freedom 250 at the White House, with the Georgian-Spaniard having his lightweight title and undefeated record ripped from his grasp.

“I've had two major hate watches in the past two weeks that have been successful,” Pimblett tells the Independent, keeping his glee somewhat concealed in a half-smile.

But it wasn’t simply Topuria’s demise, which saw him hospitalised with two broken orbital bones and a busted nose, that satisfied 31-year-old Pimblett. The UFC lightweight contender had spent the first half of 2026 bombarded by jibes about his own devastating defeat to Gaethje at UFC 324.

Though perceived by many to have been “fast-tracked” to a main-event title shot, Pimblett went into that match for interim gold as the favourite, with Gaethje considered well past his prime. What followed was a five-round war that left Pimblett bloodied and bruised as Gaethje scored a statement win.

The American less so received plaudits for his performance than Pimblett was taunted for failing to live up to the hype. Four months on, the top comment accompanying the viral video of him pledging his PSG support was, “Got absolutely schooled by a 37-year-old Gaethje”, as if that should be an insult. By then shocking the world to demolish the previously-untouchable Topuria, the legend killer, inside four rounds, Gaethje demonstrated beyond doubt that losing to him is no embarrassment.

 “I knew that anyway, you know what I mean?” Pimblett assures us. “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 insisted his confidence never dropped following that defeat, one that he claims was influenced by an illegal move from Gaethje, adding: “[I went] five rounds with who is now the undisputed world champion, and I made the fight competitive all the way through it. One judge thought I won two rounds of the five, and I think I only lost the second round because he poked me in the eye and punched me straight after it. It wasn’t even an eye poke, it was an eye gouge.”

Stressing his own heart, Pimblett publicly took issue with the way Topuria lost on the South Lawn. One round after very nearly having the fight ended by doctor stoppage, Topuria’s corner threw in the towel after he’d been battered in the fourth – but that wasn’t how Pimblett saw things. He ferociously lambasted “El Matador” for “quitting on the stool” on his YouTube channel, before reiterating his scathing criticism in this interview.

“ I didn’t quit on the stool like a little b****,” he declared. “That's what I didn’’t do.

“That’s how I saw it. If my corner team says we're gonna [stop] the fight, I’m going to say: ‘No, we’re not. We’re carrying on. We’re getting this fight done.’ I will fight with every last breath I have in my body to win this fight, just like I did when I fought him [Gaethje].”

Pimblett emphatically called out Gaethje for a rematch after his win at the White House, feeling it would be a just reward for finishing Benoit Saint-Denis, as he has vowed to do, in the co-main event of UFC 329 – the 11 July card headlined by Conor McGregor’s long-anticipated return against Max Holloway.

However, “BSD” is anything but a lay-up for Pimblett. An ex-French special forces soldier, Saint-Denis has arguably the greatest punching power at 155lb. This poses a serious test Pimblett’s so-far unbroken chin, which has still been the subject of criticism during his time in the UFC for being left dangerously exposed in striking exchanges.

Pimblett doesn’t believe the BSD hype, though. “ I didn't think Justin Gaethje hit that hard, and everyone says he’s the hardest hitter that you’ve ever been hit by. BSD’s slow compared to Justin. I can’t see him hitting me that much, and even if he does, I’ll laugh in his face.”

Assuming Pimblett’s confidence is well-founded, what could come after Saint-Denis?

Pimblett has made clear his desire to run it back with Gaethje, but now is probably the closest we’ve been to getting the grudge match with Topuria. Their blood feud has been boiling ever since online trash talk led to an altercation in a hotel ahead in 2022, and a title eliminator could make sense if Pimblett is victorious at UFC 329.

The Liverpudlian, just like Darren Till before him, seems willing to fight anyone and everyone, and will not turn his nose up at the Topuria fight, even if it isn’t his first choice. “Sound, let’s go,” Pimblett says.

However, circumstances could act as a blockage. Topuria’s injuries may rule him out beyond the end of the year, and he could choose to take some more time off for his own wellbeing, with the year between his last two fights consumed by a highly-publicised divorce. Pimblett expresses sympathy over his rival’s personal situation: “He’s got a lot of s*** going on outside the cage.”

Nevertheless, Pimblett does not seem willing to sit around waiting for the money fight with Topuria. Activity is his priority.

“ I want to fight again before the end of the year, and I doubt if he’s going to be ready to,” he added. “He’s not fighting until next year at least, I don’t think. He needs to get a lot of surgeries and all the stuff like that. If he needs surgeries on his face, he’s not fighting until next year. I’m hoping to get BSD out of there within two rounds and then fight again before the end of the year.”