Cormier hands Pimblett $1,000 in cash after USA's World Cup exit stings UFC Hall of Famer

Daniel Cormier handed Paddy Pimblett $1,000 in cash in Las Vegas after the United States were knocked out of the FIFA World Cup by Belgium, costing the UFC Hall of Famer a bet he had made with the British lightweight. The USA lost 4-1 to Belgium in the Round of 16, ending both the nation’s tournament and Cormier’s wager.

Cormier admitted his confidence had run away with him following the USA’s 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32. Meeting Pimblett in Las Vegas ahead of UFC 329, the former double UFC champion settled up immediately. “I was filled with unnecessary confidence watching us beat Bosnia and Herzegovina,” Cormier said. “Sh*t! Bro, I owe you money. I owe you $1,000.”

The pair crossed paths in Las Vegas with UFC 329 scheduled for T-Mobile Arena on Saturday, 11 July. Pimblett is set to fight French lightweight Benoit St. Denis in the co-main event, looking to bounce back from the first defeat of his UFC career — a loss to Justin Gaethje earlier this year. Cormier, meanwhile, returns to the commentary booth for the card.

The bet reflects Cormier’s long-held and vocal belief in American soccer’s potential. The former two-division champion has previously argued that the USA would have dominated the global game had soccer enjoyed the same cultural prominence as basketball or American football. In a separate conversation with Pimblett, he went further, claiming MLS would surpass the English Premier League if the country’s top athletes committed to the sport — a claim that will do little to silence his critics after Belgium’s emphatic victory.