Paddy Pimblett is one of the UFC's most explosive lightweights, and Gilbert Burns saw his jiu-jitsu up close in Liverpool. Burns, a former welterweight title challenger, trained with Pimblett in the U.K. in 2023, later saying the guy is serious, he trains hard, he has good jiu-jitsu, and he's a legit fighter. Pimblett was already in shape months before returning from ankle surgery, which impressed Burns, who called him a good guy. Now 24-4 in mixed martial arts in 2026, Pimblett still trains in a relentless, family-style gym where fighters try techniques they would never risk in a fight. Known for ferocious grappling and devastating finishes, Pimblett keeps proving his submission game is no joke. #ufc #mma #paddypimblett #gilbertburns
Gilbert Burns has offered a glowing assessment of Paddy Pimblett after the two trained together in the U.K. in 2023, singling out the Liverpool lightweight's work ethic and jiu-jitsu.
Burns, a former welterweight title challenger, got a close look at Pimblett's game during that session in Liverpool. He later said Pimblett is serious, trains hard, has good jiu-jitsu and is a legitimate fighter. He also called him a good guy. What stood out most to Burns, according to the story, was that Pimblett was already in shape months before he returned from ankle surgery.
Burns, 40, is a Brazilian fighter who competes out of Kill Cliff FC and holds a 22-10-0 record. A decorated grappler, he averages 2.12 takedowns per 15 minutes and 0.5 submission attempts per 15 minutes, while landing 3.15 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy. That background gives his read on Pimblett's ground game real weight.
Pimblett, 31, is 24-4-0 and ranked fifth in the lightweight division. The Englishman trains at Next Generation MMA Liverpool and stands five-foot-ten with a 73-inch reach. He lands 5.48 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy and averages 1.4 submission attempts per 15 minutes, a figure that backs up Burns' praise for his jiu-jitsu.
Pimblett still works in a relentless, family-style gym where fighters try techniques they would never risk in a fight. He is known for ferocious grappling and devastating finishes, and his submission game remains a genuine threat.
Why it matters
- Burns' endorsement comes from a high-level grappler who has shared the mats with elite names, adding credibility to Pimblett's jiu-jitsu reputation.
- Pimblett sits fifth in a deep lightweight division, where a reliable submission game can separate contenders.
- His 1.4 submission attempts per 15 minutes is well above Burns' own career rate, underlining how aggressively he hunts finishes.
