BUZZ Pimblett wants Gaethje rematch before Topuria; Gaethje says he 'dog walked' him

Paddy Pimblett has a grudge fight with Ilia Topuria on offer and says he would rather put it second. On the How U Livin J Piven podcast he said he wants lightweight champion Justin Gaethje first. "Obviously, I'd rather beat Ilia than beat Justin, but Justin's got the belt," he said. He still says he hates Topuria.

The feud supplied the lighter moments. Pimblett said he kept the hand sanitizer bottle he threw at Topuria's head in a London hotel in 2022, signed it and left it in his gym. If a fight is made, it comes to the press conference. He also claimed Topuria was pushed up the rankings because of their rivalry, while crediting his work ethic and noting he earned his title shot by beating Josh Emmett.

Gaethje beat Pimblett by unanimous decision for the interim title at UFC 324 in January, then took the undisputed belt from Topuria at the White House in June. Pimblett has since submitted Benoit Saint Denis in the first round. He has admitted ego led him to trade with Gaethje, and says a rematch would go differently: shoot in within 10 seconds, put him on his back and choke him out.

Gaethje, for his part, showed no sign of worrying about a sequel. On a Barstool Sports golf shoot, a self-described casual fan named Pimblett as his favorite fighter, and Gaethje reminded him of the January result: "I dog walked that motherf*cker." Their five rounds were widely called a fight-of-the-year contender.

The obstacle is Gaethje himself. Pimblett doubts he will fight again, saying his coaches would advise retirement after a night like winning the belt at the White House. Gaethje turns 38 in November. Arman Tsarukyan, Topuria and Alexander Volkanovski have all been mentioned as possible challengers, and Volkanovski has said he would vacate featherweight to face Tsarukyan if Gaethje retires.

Pimblett's own clock is slow. He says he had stem cells injected in his left hand and is training around it, and he has said he will likely return in 2027. Watch for Gaethje's decision on whether he fights again, which will shape the lightweight plans the UFC has not announced.

 

[MMA-TV Newsroom]

Pimblett says he would shoot in and choke Gaethje within 10 seconds in a rematch. Is that a realistic plan, and does it make sense before Topuria?