For every fighter who steps into the Octagon, the dream is the same—to become a UFC champion. It’s more than just a title; it’s the culmination of years of sacrifice; blood, sweat, and relentless dedication. However, becoming a champion is not every fighter’s cup of tea. Not only do they need to have the skillset but also need the hunger to achieve the goal. One such fighter who is hungry to become a champion next and has the skillset is Paddy Pimblett.
Pimblett is unbeaten in his UFC career and has impressed on most of his walks to the Octagon. However, despite his dominant performances, he is yet to get a title shot which some in the fight community think he deserves. And it seems he is not leaving everything to chance in his career but is rather planning for it. During a recent conversation, he shared his plans going forward in the year 2025. Blockbet took to their Instagram account to share a glimpse of what the 30-year-old had to say. It seems he feels that he won’t be fighting Islam Makhachev for the title.
During the show, he said, “Never been to Miami so I’m hoping to fight on that, that’s my plan. That’s what I want. I want to fight in Miami, and then Abu Dhabi in October. Like that’s the plan. If I can get it. I hope I can. Yeah, beat this opponent, the top-eight opponent. Best someone in like the top four, top five, then fight for the belt. Islam might be gone by then lad, he might have retired and we’ll see what happens.” This is not the first time that a fighter has shared future plans of becoming a champion. And lightweight is one of the toughest divisions, so ‘The Baddy’ will have to be at his best to become a champion there.
While he reckons he won’t fight Islam Makhachev, Pimblett doesn’t fear the champion. The Dagestani fighter is without a doubt one of the toughest fighters in the UFC. He has now successfully defended his title four times in the division and is looking for a new challenge in his career. But what happens if ‘The Baddy’ ever comes face to face with the Dagestani champion? If we go by the statement of the 30-year-old, he believes he will beat him in a fight.
Paddy Pimblett feels Islam Makhachev is not better than him
Paddy Pimblett has had his sights set on the champion ever since he was mocked for his controversial win over Jared Gordon at UFC 282. While Makhachev continued his reign over the division, Pimblett steadily climbed the UFC rankings. He recently made a statement with his impressive triangle choke victory over Bobby Green at UFC 304. That win not only solidified his presence among the division’s elite but also fueled his ambition to challenge the Dagestani champion. Such is his ambition that he believes he will make easy work of a guy who has four title defenses in the division.
Pimblett appeared on Ryan Hall’s show, StillTalkingShow w/ Stillryan #1, on November 25th. During the show ‘The Baddy’ said, “I respect Islam. You know what I mean? Great champion. People will probably laugh at me for saying this, but obviously, I think I’d beat him. I don’t think any man on this planet would beat me if we got in a cage with him. I think I’d beat everyone.”
There’s no denying that Makhachev is one of the most dominant grapplers in the UFC. However, Pimblett has proven his grappling skills as well, securing 10 of his 22 victories via submission. Alongside his dangerous ground game, he also possesses a sharp left kick and a powerful roundhouse that make him a legit threat in the stand-up department.
A potential showdown between the two would be nothing short of electrifying. Do you think the pair will ever fight each other inside the Octagon? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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