Pimblett: Gaethje showing puts me in lightweight elite

Paddy Pimblett believes Justin Gaethje's recent outing has confirmed his own standing among the UFC lightweight division's best. The Liverpool fighter used a former interim champion's performance as a benchmark for his own place in the 155 lb rankings.

“Gaethje's performance against Ilia showed me that I'm in the top echelon of the division”

— Paddy Pimblett, via UFC

What Paddy Pimblett said

Pimblett made the claim after watching Gaethje compete at a higher weight class. The Liverpudlian has been vocal about his progression at lightweight and continues to position himself for bigger opportunities in a division packed with contenders.

What it moves

The statement sets up a potential case for Pimblett to face ranked opposition in his next outing. His assessment of where he stands relative to established names suggests he is pushing for a step up in competition at 155 lb.

Source: ufc.com. Full Paddy Pimblett fight history and recent news at boxingnews.com.