Paddy Pimblett is set to contend for a UFC championship later this month, but his outlook appeared to draw from the golden era of Pride FC as he discussed specific modifications he believes should be implemented into the unified rules governing mixed martial arts. Pimblett is scheduled to face former UFC interim lightweight champion and ex-BMF titleholder Justin Gaethje in the main event of UFC 324 on January 24th.
The upcoming interim lightweight contender made an appearance on a recent video blog that is part of UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall’s YouTube channel, where he addressed various topics. During his discussion with Aspinall, an excerpt of which was shared by the X account @RedCorner_MMA, Pimblett stated,
“I don’t agree with stomping because your head’s got nowhere to go, but a soccer kick where someone’s sitting in guard and you can move the legs and kick them there, and knees to the head of the grounded opponent, so if someone shoots a sloppy takedown just to get a break, you should be able to knee them in the head.”
Paddy Pimblett’s thoughts on Ilia Topuria and the UFC lightweight division status
It was fitting that Paddy Pimblett engaged in conversation with Tom Aspinall about the predicament of an interim champion stuck in uncertainty, particularly concerning the unclear status of the division’s reigning titleholder. This sentiment was conveyed by Pimblett, who is preparing to battle Justin Gaethje for the interim 155-pound belt, while the reigning lightweight champion, Ilia Topuria, has an uncertain timeframe for his potential return due to personal circumstances.
While conversing with his fellow UK combat athlete, Aspinall, ‘The Baddy’ indicated that he has heard rumors suggesting Topuria could be sidelined for approximately one to two years, depending on the potential escalation of issues within his personal situation involving his estranged former partner.
Although the former Cage Warriors belt holder expressed his desire to compete against Ilia Topuria at some juncture to demonstrate to MMA enthusiasts his capability to defeat the Georgian-Spanish fighter, he also suggested that if Topuria’s absence were to extend significantly, vacating the title might be the best course of action to foster more activity within the division for its active competitors.
