Paddy Pimblett’s attempt to claim the UFC interim lightweight title ended in disappointment in Las Vegas, as Justin Gaethje’s experience and pressure told over five punishing rounds that went the distance. The Liverpool fighter left the octagon bloodied but unbowed, applauding his opponent as the judges returned a unanimous decision in favour of the American.
For Gaethje, now 37, it was a reminder of why he has remained a fixture at the top of the division for nearly a decade. For Pimblett, it was the first loss of his UFC career and a test he refused to shrink from.
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Both men raised their arms when the final bell sounded, but the scorecards told a clear story. Gaethje had done enough on all three to secure the UFC interim lightweight title, setting up a future unification bout with the absent champion, Ilia Topuria.
“Paddy is right, Scousers do not get knocked out,” Gaethje said afterwards. “I had to put him on his back foot. He’s very dangerous, great timing. I needed to take his momentum away.”
The fight itself was relentless. Gaethje dropped Pimblett repeatedly with right hands, one of which sent him to the canvas late in the first round. Another heavy combination nearly finished the contest at the end of the second, only for Pimblett to survive on instinct and grit.
When the third round opened, Pimblett surged back. Blood streamed from a cut above his eye as he forced Gaethje onto the retreat for the first time, briefly shifting the mood inside the arena. The momentum stalled after a low blow halted proceedings, but the response from Pimblett showed why his popularity extends beyond results.
By the fourth round, fatigue was visible on both fighters. Pimblett was dropped again, stood again, and pressed forward once more. The fifth was fought on resolve alone, with both men trading until the final seconds, neither willing to concede ground.
“I wanted to be walking away with that belt,” Pimblett said. “I know how tough I am. I don’t need to prove that to anyone. You live and you learn. I’ll be back better.”
Despite the defeat, Pimblett used his post-fight interview to return to a subject he has raised repeatedly during his rise through the sport, speaking candidly about men’s mental health.
“Two lads I know have killed themselves over the last few months,” he said. “Men need to speak up. Don’t bottle your feelings up.”
The bout headlined the UFC’s debut with a new broadcast partner, a slot reserved only for fighters with proven pulling power. Pimblett, dancing to the cage and playing to the crowd despite fighting on American soil, showed why the promotion continues to invest in him.
Gaethje, meanwhile, becomes the first fighter to win the interim lightweight belt twice. Pimblett leaves without gold, but with his standing enhanced rather than diminished, having shared the cage with one of the division’s most unforgiving operators.
The official bout result and judges’ scorecards are listed on the UFC fight results page
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[Image Credit | Getty Images]
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