Paddy Pimblett Says He Won't Fight in January Again, Eyes a March or April Return

Paddy Pimblett says he will not take a fight in January again, and is aiming for a March or April return instead.

The English lightweight explained that his UFC 324 bout with Justin Gaethje forced him to cut weight through Christmas and over his January 3 birthday, which he said ruined his holidays. This time, he plans to enjoy December, begin fight camp in the new year and come back fresh in the spring.

Pimblett also sketched out the top of the lightweight division as he sees it. He believes Arman is fighting Justin, leaving only Ilia and Max ranked above him. He thinks Max is waiting for Conor, which in his view leaves Ilia as the one realistic option. He is not currently ranked number one, but he is ranked fifth in the division.

The fighters

Pimblett, 31, is 24-4 and fights out of Next Generation MMA Liverpool. The Orthodox fighter lands 5.48 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy. He averages 1.4 submission attempts per 15 minutes, a reminder of his grappling threat.

Gaethje, 37, holds the lightweight title at 28-5 and trains at Genesis Training Center in the United States. He lands 6.48 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy, but averages just 0.33 takedowns per 15 minutes and no submission attempts.

Why it matters

• A March or April return would put Pimblett on the shelf for several months, giving the top of the division time to shake out.
• By his own reading, only Ilia and Max sit above him, and he expects Max to wait for Conor.
• His planned camp, starting in January, signals he wants a full preparation rather than a quick turnaround.

For Pimblett, the scheduling comes down to a simple trade: a spring fight and a proper holiday season in place of another winter weight cut.