Justin Gaethje says people consistently underestimate his grappling ability and believes he would have been capable of submitting Paddy Pimblett. Gaethje made the assertion as part of broader comments on his wrestling and submission skills.
Justin Gaethje is pushing back against the notion that he is a one-dimensional fighter, claiming his grappling ability is routinely underestimated and asserting that he could have submitted Paddy Pimblett if the two had met inside the cage.
Gaethje, the reigning lightweight champion, made the comments as part of broader remarks on his wrestling and submission skills. The 37-year-old American, who trains out of Genesis Training Center, carries a 28-5 record and has long been celebrated primarily for his striking. He lands 6.48 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate — numbers that rank among the best in the lightweight division — but the champion is clearly eager to remind the MMA world that his game extends beyond punching power. Notably, his database profile registers zero submission attempts per 15 minutes, which makes his assertion about submitting Pimblett an especially pointed one.
Pimblett, ranked sixth at lightweight, presents a credible measuring stick for submission talk. The 31-year-old Liverpudlian holds a 23-4 record and averages 1.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes, meaning he is far more active on the ground than Gaethje by the numbers. Pimblett also generates 5.49 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy, making him a genuinely dangerous opponent in multiple areas.
Why it matters
- Gaethje's comments challenge the narrative that he is a pure striker, adding a new dimension to how the champion is perceived heading forward.
- Pimblett, ranked sixth, is among the division's rising names, so any champion commentary directed his way carries ranking implications.
- The stylistic contrast is stark: Pimblett's submission-heavy ground game versus Gaethje's elite striking volume could make a potential matchup compelling on paper.
