Justin Gaethje has pushed back against those who underestimate his grappling, asserting that his wrestling and submission skills are better than given credit for. The lightweight contender specifically stated he believes he could have submitted Paddy Pimblett.
Justin Gaethje is making clear he is more dangerous on the ground than his reputation suggests, calling out Paddy Pimblett by name as someone he believes he could have submitted.
The lightweight champion spoke out to defend his grappling credentials, pushing back against a narrative that paints him purely as a brawler. Gaethje, 37, carries a 28-5 record and holds the lightweight title fighting out of Genesis Training Center. Standing five-foot-eleven with a 70-inch reach, he lands an impressive 6.48 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy — numbers that reflect his elite stand-up output. While his submission attempts per 15 minutes sit at zero in the database, his wrestling background has long been considered an underutilized part of his game, and his comments suggest he is tired of that being overlooked.
Pimblett, ranked sixth in the lightweight division, has built a reputation as one of the more well-rounded grapplers in the top ten. The 31-year-old Englishman out of Next Generation MMA Liverpool holds a 23-4 record and averages 1.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes, a figure that underscores his aggressive approach on the mat. He stands five-foot-ten with a 73-inch reach and lands 5.49 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy, making him a dual threat wherever the fight goes.
Why it matters
- Gaethje's comments reframe how opponents and fans may prepare for and perceive him as champion
- Pimblett sits at number six in the division, making any tension between the two fighters relevant to lightweight title contention
- A striker-versus-grappler stylistic narrative already exists between these two, and Gaethje is actively disputing which side of that line he belongs on
