Paddy Pimblett explains viral vomit clip, weight-cut mistakes

Paddy Pimblett has opened up about the moment that nearly defined his early career for all the wrong reasons — puking during a post-fight interview after defending his Cage Warriors featherweight title in 2016.

The Liverpool native, who faces Benoit Saint Denis in the UFC 329 co-main event next weekend, told fans in a Fight Camp vlog this week that the infamous clip from his win over Julian Erosa in London had nothing to do with his refuel protocol. According to MMA Fighting, Pimblett admitted he went to Starbucks for a hot chocolate after weigh-ins, then stopped at Tesco and ate an entire pack of Ferrero Rocher on the way to the venue. "After doing an 8-kilo water cut, one of the biggest cuts I've ever done," he said, "it didn't go well with me body at the time."

Pimblett's early refuel blunders and coach Paul Reed's interventions

The 31-year-old lightweight, now a father with a professional camp structure, recalled other rookie mistakes his longtime coach Paul Reed had to correct. After weighing in for his UFC London debut against Rodrigo Vargas in 2022, Pimblett reportedly went straight to the fighter hotel restaurant and ordered a full English breakfast before drinking more than a liter of water. "Paul Reed came over, 'What the f*ck are you doing?!' I was just sitting there like, 'Just having a full English,'" Pimblett said in the vlog. Reed's response, per the footage: "What are you doing, you f***ing idiot?"

Another time, Pimblett pulled chocolate milk from his bag immediately after stepping off the scale. When Reed asked what he was doing, Pimblett said he thought it was good for hydration. "Yeah, in like 12 hours, you f***ing idiot," Reed told him, according to the video. Reed made him drink water first and confiscated the chocolate milk.

Pimblett has never missed weight since joining the UFC and moving up to lightweight. He weighed in under the championship limit for his bout with Justin Gaethje and expects an even easier cut this time. "This time I haven't got to make 155, it's 156," he said. "You never know, I might only end up cutting 10 pounds, and then I'll be getting back in the cage at 185. A proper lightweight." UFC 329 takes place next Saturday.

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• MMA Fighting — Paddy Pimblett explains viral post-fight vomit clip, worst weight-cutting mistakes