Paddy Pimblett | Ready To Join The Lightweight Elite

“I just can't wait to fight again. It’s been a while. I fought in July, this is April, so I just can’t wait to get back in the cage and put on a performance for everyone.”

Pimblett had to sit on the news of the fight for a while, but admitted that he was thrilled with the matchup when it was pitched to him. 

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“I got told about this fight in December – it was a while back now, but I was very excited,” he said.

“I was jumping up and down in my living room, like, ‘Yes! Yes! I'm about to be ranked number seven!’ and then, when the fight was looking like it was getting pushed back to June, I was like, ‘No! I want to fight in Miami. This needs to get done for Miami.’ And, luckily enough, it all fell into place.”

“Poirier and Gaethje held interim belts, and Charles held the undisputed belt. He’s fought top competition so, when I finish him, my name best be regarded in there with them.

“Beat Chandler, and then it’s a top five (opponent), and then a title fight. That’s the goal. That’s the plan.”

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Pimblett’s rise up the lightweight division has been a steady progression, with the level of opposition gradually increasing with each fight. But an ankle injury sustained against Jared Gordon put him on the shelf for a year as he went under the knife to repair damaged ankle ligaments.

He returned to outpoint former interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson at UFC 296, then rendered King Green unconscious with a triangle choke at UFC 304 last July to move himself to within striking distance of the division’s big names.

The fight will see Pimblett compete over the five-round championship duration for the first time since his Cage Warriors days, and he admitted that he has a little to prove with regard to his cardio, especially how his over-exuberance in pursuit of a finish saw him showing signs of fatigue down the stretch against Ferguson.

“To be honest, my cardio has been in question before” he admitted.

“When I tried to kill Tony Ferguson in round one, I did get a bit tired in the third and just controlled him, just got on top and controlled position to get the win.

“But, as I say, it was Tony Ferguson. I tried to kill him in the first round, and that man is just very hard to finish, especially with strikes. Unless you put him out cold, he’s not going away. And the refs know that – anyone else in that position, he gets stopped.

“But I’m ready to do five rounds. I’ve done five rounds in Cage Warriors before, and this isn’t going five rounds. Chandler gets finished in two.”

There has been nothing but respect between Pimblett and Chandler ahead of the matchup, with the American veteran admitting that he’s a fan of the Englishman’s personality and fighting style, while Pimblett has given due praise to Chandler’s career achievements.

Chandler has made no secret of his intention to step into range and attempt to knock Pimblett out. The knowledge that he’ll be facing some heavy artillery only fires up Pimblett even further, with “The Baddy” saying he performs the best when the risks are highest.

“It’s motivated me a bit more knowing that he's gonna come in and just try to hit me with an overhand right or a left hook and knock me out,” he said.

“That’s the thing. The lightweight title picture, everyone says, ’He’s top five, this and that.’ They’re all the old guard,” he said.

“Chandler's older, Poirier’s older. Gaethje’s older. Charles is older. They're all quite old, getting on. Even Max Holloway, he’s battle worn, even though he’s ranked six. He might be a bit younger, but he’s battle worn. The only young one is Arman Tsarukyan, and I think he deserves the next title shot, but we’ll see what happens.

“A lot of these fighters that are ranked above me are probably going to retire soon. Poirier’s talking about it. I’ve seen Gaethje say he’s only got a few more fights left. I can’t see Charles retiring anytime soon (though), so after I beat Chandler, I’d love to fight Charles.”

Another fighter who is firmly on Pimblett’s radar is former featherweight champion Ilia Topuria. The pair infamously clashed at the host hotel before their respective victories at UFC London in March 2022.