Gaethje Rules Out Pimblett Rematch

Justin Gaethje Rejects Future Bouts Against Paddy Pimblett

Gaethje Dismisses Pimblett Rematch Following UFC 329

The prospect of a second meeting between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett has been officially dampened by the former interim champion. While Pimblett’s rapid submission victory over Benoit Saint Denis at UFC 329—achieved in under 60 seconds—has revitalized his standing as the new No. 5 in the UFC lightweight rankings, Gaethje does not view their previous encounter as the start of a series. When asked if the two fighters were destined to clash again, Gaethje told Pat McAfee on Wednesday, Destined for each other to fight again? No.

Gaethje and Pimblett first fought in January, a bout where Gaethje battered Pimblett on the feet before winning a unanimous decision. Although Pimblett suffered that defeat, he has since spoken highly of Gaethje’s subsequent performance to dethrone Ilia Topuria at the UFC White House card. Pimblett admitted he was struggling in the immediate aftermath of his loss to Gaethje, but witnessing that performance in June changed his perspective. Gaethje appreciates that his upset win over Topuria has resonated with other athletes, noting, “I think it’s crazy what my story has done for so many people. Rafael Fiziev, a guy I fought two times, says a very similar thing. I kind of rejuvenated him when I won that fight.”

Ilia Topuria Projected to Defeat Paddy Pimblett

Topuria’s Standing and the “Goofy” Style

Despite his recent victory over Saint Denis, which saw him win his 10th fight in his last 11 appearances, Pimblett faces a complex path to a title shot. Speaking with Shakiel Mahjouri at the 2026 UFC Hall of Fame event, Gaethje maintained his assessment that Ilia Topuria remains a superior threat. While acknowledging Pimblett’s unique style—which Gaethje described as “goofy” in a non-negative way—he remained firm on his prediction for a potential Topuria matchup.

For more on this story, see Justin Gaethje Denies Ilia Topuria Rematch After UFC Freedom 250 Victory.

“Ilia is one of the best in the world,” Gaethje said. “He’s one of the most dangerous fighters that there is and he’s a lot more dangerous than Paddy Pimblett. However, Paddy Pimblett is goofy. He’s got a funky style, not goofy in a bad way. Being goofy is such an asset. He’s really hard to hit, really long. He moves in weird angles and at different times. That throws you off and that’s why he has success.” Regarding the potential outcome of a Topuria-Pimblett fight, Gaethje added, “I think Ilia is way more dangerous. Fighting is crazy. In my mind, 97 out of 100 times, Ilia beats him up.”

UFC 329 Peers Call for a Pimblett and Topuria Clash

The Backdrop of UFC 329

Pimblett’s performance at UFC 329, which featured a card headlined by Conor McGregor facing Max Holloway, drew significant attention from his peers. Featherweight veteran Billy Quarantillo wrote on Twitter, “Quick submission Paddy is the real deal.” Retired stars Kenny Florian and Glover Teixeira were also effusive in their praise. UFC veteran Matt Brown suggested the victory warranted a major step up, writing on Twitter, Ilia vs. Paddy next? Easiest matchmaking ever right?

Paddy Pimblett and Ilia Topuria Maintain Long-Standing Social Media Rivalry

The rivalry between Pimblett and Topuria originated in early 2021 on social media. While Topuria has made his mark as a double champion in the featherweight and lightweight divisions, knocking out fighters like Holloway and Volkanovski, Pimblett’s career path has involved fighting veterans. As Pimblett prepares for his future, the MMA community continues to debate his trajectory after he stood toe-to-toe with Gaethje for five full rounds—a feat the sources note was not achieved by Topuria, who was stopped at the end of the fourth round by Gaethje.

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