Paddy Pimblett has experienced a significant setback in his UFC career, dropping out of the lightweight division's top five rankings without even stepping into the octagon for a follow-up bout.
Rankings Shake-Up Following UFC 325
The Liverpudlian fighter, known as 'The Baddy', suffered a unanimous decision defeat to Justin Gaethje at UFC 324 in Las Vegas last month, failing in his quest for UFC gold. Despite this loss, Pimblett initially maintained his fifth-place ranking in the competitive 155-pound division, receiving some consolation after the tough contest.
However, the latest rankings update has delivered a blow to the 31-year-old's standing. This past weekend's UFC 325 event in Australia, headlined by Alexander Volkanovski's featherweight title defence against Diego Lopes, featured several lightweight clashes that reshuffled the divisional hierarchy.
Saint Denis Climbs, Pimblett Falls
French fighter Benoit Saint Denis delivered a particularly impactful performance, stopping New Zealand's Dan Hooker in the second round of their co-main event bout. This impressive victory earned Saint Denis a three-spot promotion in the rankings, propelling him into the fifth position previously held by Pimblett.
Consequently, Pimblett has slipped down one place in the official UFC lightweight standings. This development comes despite the British fighter not competing since his February encounter with Gaethje, highlighting how other fighters' performances can influence rankings even during inactive periods.
Recovery and Future Plans
Following his defeat at UFC 324, Pimblett was rushed to hospital but remarkably still attended his after-party at Zouk Nightclub in Las Vegas. His wife, Laura, later shared photographs showing Pimblett sporting significant facial bruising from the contest.
On social media, Pimblett addressed his fans, stating: "Hope everyone enjoyed my fight just as much as I did. No excuses the better man won on the night. Justin Gaethje, congratulations brother it was an honor to share the cage with such a legend." He remained optimistic about his championship aspirations, adding: "I still know it's in my destiny to win that gold!"
Potential Future Opponents
Pimblett watched Saint Denis's victory over Hooker with particular interest, having engaged in online exchanges with the New Zealand fighter in recent weeks. Following the Frenchman's win, Pimblett commented: "Nice to see Dan get TKOd after the s*** he was chatting."
The British fighter is now targeting a summer return to the octagon and has expressed openness to facing Saint Denis next. "I really like Benoit Saint Denis. I think he's a proper nice fella, and I like his fighting style," Pimblett said. "But obviously, if he's next for me, he's getting finished."
Pimblett's ranking drop represents a challenging moment in his UFC journey, forcing him to regroup and work his way back toward title contention in one of the promotion's most competitive divisions.
