Paddy Pimblett vows to avoid Gaethje mistake in UFC 329 comeback

Paddy Pimblett has spoken out ahead of his UFC 329 return on July 11, identifying what he sees as a critical tactical flaw in Justin Gaethje's approach and promising to avoid the same pitfall when he steps back into the octagon.

Pimblett, known as "The Baddy," enters UFC 329 ranked sixth in the lightweight division with a record of 23-4. The 31-year-old Liverpudlian trains out of Next Generation MMA and stands five-foot-ten with a 73-inch reach. He is a notably active offensive fighter, landing 5.49 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy, and supplements his striking with 1.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes — a reminder that his ground game remains a constant threat.

Gaethje, the current lightweight champion, carries a record of 28-5 and is widely regarded as one of the division's most dangerous competitors. The 37-year-old from the United States trains out of Genesis Training Center and brings elite striking output to every contest, landing 6.48 significant strikes per minute at an impressive 58 percent accuracy. At five-foot-eleven with a 70-inch reach, "The Highlight" relies almost entirely on his stand-up, averaging just 0.33 takedowns per 15 minutes and recording no submission attempts in his statistical profile.

Pimblett did not name a specific opponent for his UFC 329 outing, but his public focus on Gaethje's game plan suggests the champion's style is firmly on his mind as a blueprint to dissect rather than follow.

Why it matters

• Pimblett at sixth in the rankings is within striking distance of a title shot with a strong performance
• His submission volume contrasts sharply with Gaethje's one-dimensional stand-up, making tactical variety a potential edge
• Any momentum built at UFC 329 could push Pimblett directly into the championship conversation in a stacked 155-pound division