Paddy Pimblett says he would’ve considered retirement if he lost at UFC 329. | 📷: Getty/UFC
Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight Paddy Pimblett believes there would’ve been no point in continuing his fighting career had he lost to Benoit St. Denis.
Pimblett (24-4) took on St. Denis (17-4) in a lightweight matchup in the co-main event of UFC 329 on Saturday in Las Vegas. “The Baddy” had repeatedly predicted that his French counterpart would rush for a takedown and get choked out. It played out just as the Brit foresaw, as he secured a quick submission in the first round to return to winning ways.
Paddy Pimblett explains why UFC 329 loss to Benoit St. Denis could have ended his career
Pimblett subsequently revealed that weeks before the fight, he was wondering whether he should retire if he couldn’t beat St. Denis. He has always voiced his UFC championship aspirations and believed his title dreams would’ve never materialized if he hadn’t gotten past St. Denis.
“About four weeks ago, five weeks ago, I was like, ‘If I don’t win this fight, what’s the point in fighting anymore? I might as well retire. If I can’t beat BSD, then what’s the point in fighting?’ If I can’t beat BSD, I’m never going to be a world champion,” Pimblett said on the UFC’s ”About Last Fight” podcast. “And that’s what I do this for. I do this to be the best in the world. So, if I can’t beat him, what?”
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Paddy Pimblett was inspired by Justin Gaethje’s win at UFC Freedom 250
However, the Liverpudlian found a new wave of motivation when Justin Gaethje defeated Ilia Topuria in a massive upset to win the undisputed lightweight title at UFC Freedom 250. Coming off a hard-fought loss to Gaethje, Pimblett felt invincible during the last two weeks of his fight camp for UFC 329.
“And then two days later, Justin Gaethje beats Ilia Topuria. And it was one of the biggest kicks up the ass I’ve ever had in me life,” Pimblett added. “Set a fire underneath me and just the last couple of weeks of this training camp have been unbelievable. And I’m ready to kill anyone. Put anyone in front of me and I’ll kill them. Like, I literally could have killed Benoit St. Denis then. I had to say to Marc, ‘Lad, he’s out. He’s unconscious.’”
