UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier is advocating for Paddy Pimblett to secure a title shot, provided he can overcome a prominent competitor in the lightweight division. Pimblett, who holds an impressive record of 22-4 in MMA and is undefeated in his UFC career at 7-0, has expressed a desire to challenge reigning champion Ilia Topuria, who also seeks the matchup.
However, following Arman Tsarukyan’s decisive victory over Dan Hooker at UFC Fight Night 265 in Qatar, Cormier believes the next step for Pimblett should be a showdown with former interim champion Justin Gaethje. Cormier stated in a recent YouTube segment, “I know for a fact that they wanted to do Paddy vs. Justin. A win over Justin after what he’s done already would really justify Paddy Pimblett fighting for the belt right now.”
Cormier acknowledged Pimblett’s exceptional performance against Michael Chandler at UFC 314, which propelled him into the top tier of the lightweight rankings, landing him at No. 5. Despite this success, Cormier emphasized that Pimblett still needs to refine his skills, remarking, “He’s riding the ship, and now he’s fought so well that we go, ‘Man, the way he beat Chandler, we’ve never seen that before.’ But Ilia’s a different beast. He’s a savage.”
Gaethje, who has a record of 26-5, is on the upswing, having won three of his last four bouts, including a recent fight against Rafael Fiziev at UFC 313. This potential matchup with Gaethje not only represents a significant challenge for Pimblett but could also be a pivotal moment that determines his readiness for a title shot.
The lightweight division is heating up as contenders jockey for position, and fans can look forward to what could be a thrilling clash between Pimblett and Gaethje that would clarify the championship landscape in the octagon.