Paddy Pimblett suddenly stands accused of disrespecting the UFC’s modern greatest – and for that the famed Scouser and his signature blond mop are set to be “dogwalked” through five brutal rounds in Las Vegas this Sunday.
Or at least this is the sobering message from real life American Psycho Justin Gaethje, who is vowing to end all Paddy hype inside the Octagon, stressing: “I’m going to dogwalk this English f***, you watch”.
UFC 324: Gaethje vs Pimblett | SUN 25 JAN 1PM AEDT | Justin Gaethje faces Paddy Pimblett for the interim lightweight championship. | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.
The declaration was the undeniable high point of UFC 324 press event that also saw Pimblett brand UFC lightweight champ Ilia Topuria a “sausage” and fellow contender Arman Tsarukyan far, far worse.
Yet Gaethje?
Well, he just wants The Baddy to stop blabbering — period.
In particular, taking exception with the Englishman’s fight week takes on Dustin Poirier – who only recently retired after having proved himself one of the modern era’s true entertainers.
After listening through Pimblett’s opening monologue, which included doubling down on previous suggestions he is going to give Gaethje the greatest beating of his career, ‘The Highlight’ was then asked for his own thoughts.
“I love it,” he said of everything spurting from the man branded Conor McGregor 2.0.
“I love everything this guy has been saying.
“And he’s definitely sounding over-confident.
“He’s out here disrespecting legends like Dustin Poirier … and I’m going to dogwalk this English f***, you watch.”
At which point, a journalist then asked Gaethje if, maybe, he was representing Team Legend against the noisy UK contender?
“I’m still in it,” Gaethje shot back, referencing the UFC roster. “Legends are retired.
“I’m not retired yet, and the fire is still as bright and hot as it’s ever been.
“I cannot wait to fight this guy.”
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Gaethje: “I don’t feel 37!” | 08:28
At which point, having sat silently for at least 60 seconds, Pimblett decided it was time to defend himself.
“Dustin’s never got a nice word to say about me, lad,” the breakout UFC lightweight contender started, looking across the table at Gaethje as he spoke.
“So I was honest and said he looked like s*** against Gaethje.
“F***ing hell, stop f***ing crying …”
But Gaethje wasn’t done.
“That wasn’t even the fight you were talking about,” the American shot back, after Pimblett had – seemingly inadvertently – mentioned his name instead of Max Holloway. “You said his last fight …”
Pimblett: “Which? No, I’m saying Dustin looked like s*** against Holloway, that was what I said.”
Gaethje: “You’d also look like s*** against Holloway.”
Pimblett: “Well, we’ll see once I beat you, I could end up fighting him.”
Gaethje: “You won’t be fighting him”.
When it came to breaking news however, UFC boss Dana White refused to be drawn on exactly what fight bonuses will look like this Sunday, and on a card that doubles as the company’s debut under a new $7.7 billion broadcasting deal.
Gaethje also refused to be drawn into any talk about money, or UFC purses specifically, despite only a day earlier denouncing the fact he’d earned 14 UFC bonuses in as many appearances – and still hadn’t broken US$1 million.
Yet when asked to expand at Friday’s press conference, he replied only that “I’m here to talk about fighting.”
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Gaethje: “I don’t feel 37!” | 08:28
Pimblett, of course, was happy to talk about more.
And as he has done for some time now.
Currently on an undefeated Octagon tear stretching seven straight fights, Pimblett is now looking for the biggest scalp of his hyped career — and in a bout where the interim UFC lightweight title is on the line.
Win, and PTB goes straight into a slobberknocker with undisputed division king Topuria, currently sidelined with family business.
And should that little matter drag on longer than anyone likes?
Well, Pimblett could challenge any number of people he has built beef with — including Tsarukyan, Dan Hooker, even Jake Paul.
Asked late in proceedings if he disliked Tsarukyan or Manchester United more, the Scouser cackled: “Ooooooh, it’s a tough one that.
“I hate both of them, like.
“But Arman doesn’t stop chatting s*** about me, lad.
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“Where Man United don’t chat s*** about me so I probably hate Arman more.
“He needs to sort his head out, lad … stop talking about me.”
Same as when somebody asked White about suggestions that rankings no longer mattered – an obvious dig at the fact Tsarukyan wasn’t in this interim title fight, despite being the No.1 challenger to Topuria – Pimblett fired: “F*** Arman Tsarukyan”.
Elsewhere Gaethje also expanded on his plans to take Pimblett deep into the five rounder.
“That’s just where I find the most success,” he said.
“He’s weird, awkward – awkward fighting style. And it’s going to be a puzzle.
“I’m going to have to figure it out in the first round and, similar to my other opponents, where I’m constantly building momentum … and this is about momentum, isn’t it?
“I’m going to dogwalk this mother***er.”
To which Pimblett shot back: “If you last that long.”
The Englishman also stressed he was fine with the fight going deep into the championship rounds.
“Yeah, of course,” he said. “I know I’ve got that in me anyway.
“I know I’ve got the heart and desire to go five rounds with a warrior like Justin Gaethje but it’s not going to go that long.
“I’m going to put a beating on him.
“And like he’s never had before.
“I can’t wait to show everyone just how good I am.”