Paddy Pimblett admits 'ego' led to downfall against Justin Gaethje
While Paddy Pimblett displayed heart by going toe-to-toe against Justin Gaethje in the UFC 324 headliner, it wasn’t exactly the best tactical approach.
Paddy Pimblett took a beating against Justin Gaethje. | Getty/UFC While Paddy Pimblett displayed heart by going toe-to-toe against Justin Gaethje in the UFC 324 headliner, it wasn’t exactly the best tactical approach. The end result was a unanimous decision defeat, as Gaethje battered “The Baddy” on the feet for the better part of five rounds to claim the interim lightweight crown.
Pimblett might have been better served trying to make Gaethje grapple, but he wanted to prove a point against one of the sport’s top all-action competitors. As a result, it’s Gaethje who gets a chance to unify the lightweight title when he faces Ilia Topuria in the UFC White House main event on June 14. “To be honest, with the last fight, I think it was a little bit of me ego got in the way,” Pimblett said on his YouTube channel.
“I wanted to knock him out. I wanted to strike with him and show everyone I can strike. I wanted a war.
When you’re trying to take him down in the fifth round after he bludgeoned you at the end of the second, it’s quite hard. Back to fight IQ. Back to the game plan and not just swinging recklessly.