Paddy Pimblett reacts to Islam Makhachev hailing him as potential future title challenger
UFC lightweight Paddy Pimblett has responded to champion Islam Makhachev's recent comments about giving him a potential title shot. In an interview, Makhachev expressed openness to giving Pimblett a title opportunity but emphasized the need for the rising star to prove himself against top-tier competition.
Makhachev stated:
"When he deserve, why not? If he won couple next matches, when he’s gonna be in top 10, why not? … Now it’s all guys who are so dangerous."
Pimblett wasted no time in responding, In a video on X, he acknowledged Makhachev's comments and issued a clear message:
"Did you see that where Isalm was talking about me the other day? He said ,'He's an exciting fighter,' and that 'if he keeps winning you never know, he could fight for the belt,' and that. You know Islam, we're coming. We're coming brother, we're coming."
Check out Paddy Pimblett's response below:
The Liverpudlian native has quickly become one of the UFC's most popular fighters, known for his charismatic personality and exciting fighting style. However, the lightweight division is fiercely competitive, and Pimblett will need to continue winning against top-ranked opponents to earn a title shot.
Paddy Pimblett's career arc in the UFC
Paddy Pimblett burst onto the UFC scene with a bang, quickly becoming one of the promotion's most talked-about fighters. His journey began in Sept. 2021 when he knocked out Luigi Vendramini in the first round, earning a Performance of the Night bonus. This early success propelled him into the spotlight.
The Liverpudlian continued his winning streak with submissions over Rodrigo Vargas and Jordan Leavitt, both earning him Performance of the Night awards. However, his undefeated run almost hit a roadblock against Jared Gordon in Dec. 2022.
A controversial unanimous decision victory for Pimblett sparked heated debate among fans and media alike, with many believing Gordon was the rightful winner.
Undeterred, Pimblett bounced back with a unanimous decision win over Tony Ferguson in Dec. 2023. Building on this momentum, he recently secured another impressive victory at UFC 304, submitting King Green in the first round to earn a $200,000 Performance of the Night bonus.