Paddy Pimblett says Gaethje upset changed UFC 329 mindset

Paddy Pimblett considered hanging up his gloves if he lost to Benoit St. Denis at UFC 329 but found new motivation in an unlikely place — Justin Gaethje's upset win over Ilia Topuria.

Pimblett submitted St. Denis in the first round of their co-main event bout Saturday in Las Vegas, exactly as he predicted. Speaking on the UFC's "About Last Fight" podcast, per Sherdog, the Liverpool lightweight revealed that four weeks before fight night he questioned whether there was any point continuing if he couldn't beat the Frenchman. "If I can't beat BSD, I'm never going to be a world champion," he said. "And that's what I do this for. I do this to be the best in the world. So, if I can't beat him, what?"

How Gaethje's title win reignited Pimblett's camp

Two days after that low moment, Gaethje knocked off Topuria to claim the lightweight title at UFC Freedom 250. The result flipped Pimblett's mindset completely. "It was one of the biggest kicks up the ass I've ever had in me life," he said. "Set a fire underneath me and just the last couple of weeks of this training camp have been unbelievable."

Pimblett, who improved to 24-4, said the final fortnight of preparation left him ready to face anyone in the division. He claimed he could have killed St. Denis in the choke and had to be reminded by his corner that his opponent was already unconscious. The win puts him back in the lightweight mix after a tough loss to Gaethje earlier in the year.

Pimblett has not announced his next opponent or fight date.

Reported via:

• Sherdog — Paddy Pimblett says Justin Gaethje’s upset changed his UFC 329 mindset