The UFC’s landmark debut on Paramount+ culminated with Justin Gaethje claiming the interim lightweight championship with a gritty unanimous decision victory over Paddy Pimblett. The main event was a punishing affair, with Gaethje dropping “The Baddy” multiple times in a fight that earned both warriors a Fight of the Night bonus.
While the new champion immediately set his sights on a unification bout with Ilia Topuria, the defeated Pimblett retreated from the public eye. The Liverpool fighter maintained a complete social media blackout for several days following the contest, leaving fans to speculate about his condition and mindset after the first major setback of his UFC career.
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Paddy PimblettCooper Neill/Zuffa LLC-GettyImages
(Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC-GettyImages)
Paddy ‘The Baddy’ Shares a Heartfelt Post
Pimblett broke his silence on Tuesday, Jan. 27, sharing a lengthy and reflective statement with his followers on Instagram.
Screenshot of Paddy Pimblett’s Instagram post@theufcbaddy on Instagram
(@theufcbaddy on Instagram)
He expressed gratitude to the fans and made a point of offering no excuses for the outcome of the fight, along with pictures highlighting the damage Gaethje inflicted on his face during the fight.
In his post, Pimblett candidly wrote, “No excuses, the better man won on the night,” giving full credit to his victorious opponent.
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He even extended his congratulations to Gaethje, saying, “Congratulations, brother, it was an honour to share the cage with such a legend”.
The 31-year-old also revealed he emerged from the five-round battle with no significant injuries, crediting a great training camp and an easy weight cut. His statement then quickly shifted from reflection to future ambition, focusing on his ultimate goal.
In the caption, Pimblett boldly declared, “I still know it’s in my destiny to win that gold!” and “I’ll be back for that belt in the near future.”
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The road back to contention for Pimblett begins now, with his defiant statement serving as the first step.
His wife, Laura, expressed her pride in his efforts in her own Instagram post:
Post-Fight Interview Dedication
This public address followed an in-Octagon interview where Pimblett, visibly battered, had already shown grace in defeat:
Beyond the fight itself, Pimblett used his platform at UFC 324 to deliver a powerful message on mental health. In his octagon interview, he urged men to speak up and not suffer in silence, a plea prompted by the recent suicides of two acquaintances.
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He also dedicated his performance to the memory of Liverpool footballer Diogo Jota and his brother, who died in a car crash last year. This poignant moment highlighted the perspective Pimblett carries with him beyond the sport.
The loss to Gaethje ended Pimblett’s perfect record in the UFC and halted a nine-fight overall winning streak. Despite the interim champion’s multiple fouls on Pimblett, the unanimous decision reflected Gaethje’s control and more damaging strikes throughout the contest.
The Road Ahead
With the interim title now around Gaethje’s waist, “The Highlight” is expected to face undisputed champion Ilia Topuria in a title unification bout later this year.
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Topuria, who was looking forward to a fight with Pimblett, ridiculed “The Baddy” on social media and made light of his failed attempt at a championship belt.
Ilia Topuria & Paddy PimblettJeff Bottari-Getty Images
(Jeff Bottari-Getty Images)
Pimblett, on the other hand, must work his way back to the top to secure another shot at the lightweight belt.
A solid championship contender fight to book would be a five-round fight between Pimblett and Dan Hooker, another striking-heavy lightweight veteran. The two have already started a personal feud, so a fight between the two makes perfect sense from a promotional standpoint.
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(L-R) Paddy Pimblett, Dan HookerJeff Bottari-GettyImages
(Jeff Bottari-GettyImages)
From a pure MMA standpoint, two also act as perfect tests for each other. Pimblett must continue to test himself against high-level strikers like Hooker in order to prove he belongs at the top of the division. The same goes for Hooker, who has clear holes in his grappling game.
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Jan 28, 2026, where it first appeared in the MMA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
