Paddy Pimblett needs to keep his chin tucked if he wants to avoid being another highlight on Justin Gaethje’s reel.
In the first main event of 2026, Pimblett will look to claim his first bit of gold inside the Octagon when he meets Gaethje for the interim lightweight championship at UFC 324 this Saturday night.
While Pimblett carries a distinct advantage on the mat, ‘The Baddy’ is fully prepared to throw hands with his opponent — a decision that could end up biting him on the behind.
Breaking down this weekend’s highly anticipated title tilt alongside former middleweight king Michael Bisping, Paul Felder offered some friendly advice to Pimblett. Namely, don’t try to get in a firefight with someone nicknamed ‘The Highlight.’
“When Paddy says, ‘I love getting punched in the face, that’s why I keep my chin up,’ that’s fun for the fans, but that’s also what gets you slept against a guy like Gaethje,” Felder said on the Believe You Me podcast with Michael Bisping. “You can’t play that game with Justin. You might get away with it against certain guys on the way up, but this is one of the hardest leg‑kickers, one of the heaviest hitters, one of the most relentless pressure fighters in the division.
“If you’re telling me you don’t mind trading and getting hit clean, I’m telling you that is exactly what Justin wants to hear. That’s his fight. That’s his world.”
Paddy Pimblett Favored to Come Out on Top in First UFC Title Fight
Thus far, Pimblett has not lost inside the Octagon, and oddsmakers are favoring him to come out on top against Gaethje as a near 3-to-1 favorite.
It’s certainly not the first time Gaethje has walked into a bout as the underdog. He closed at +130 going into his rematch with Rafael Fiziev at UFC 313. He was in a similar position ahead of his sequel scrap with Dustin Poirier, and we all remember how that played out.
