Pimblett blames eye gouges and low blows for Gaethje loss after rival claims undisputed title

Paddy Pimblett has alleged that eye gouges, low blows, and faked fouls from Justin Gaethje contributed to his unanimous-decision loss at UFC 324 in January, revisiting the defeat after Gaethje became undisputed lightweight champion by stopping Ilia Topuria at UFC White House.

Gaethje defeated Pimblett across five rounds in an interim title fight before going on to unify the belt against the previously undefeated Topuria, whose corner stopped the contest at the end of Round 4. The result put the entire 155-pound division on notice — and, by Pimblett’s own admission, left him more motivated rather than discouraged.

“Weird to say, but Monday morning watching that, came in more motivated,” Pimblett said in a vlog. “I went five rounds with Gaethje and was pushing the pace to the very end. I didn’t quit. I kept coming forward trying to finish the fight. And I think I won 3 and 5, so he beat me 3-2. One of the judges agreed.”

Pimblett went further, directly attributing the outcome to illegal tactics. “If a lot of different things didn’t happen in that fight like eye gouges and low blows and then faking low blows, then it would have been a different fight,” he said. “We’ve got to get on with it now. No point crying over spilled milk. I just hope I get to fight again. As I say, he’s the undisputed champion now. I went five rounds with the undisputed champion of the world.”

Before any rematch with Gaethje becomes realistic, Pimblett must first get past Benoit Saint Denis at UFC 329 on July 11 in Las Vegas. Saint Denis arrives on a four-fight winning streak — all by knockout or submission — after a two-fight slump in 2024, and his smothering grappling style presents a clear threat.

Pimblett, however, is not concerned. “We know BSD’s going to try and take me down,” he said. “BSD takes most people down. I think he might be a little bit afraid to take me down because he knows I’ll submit him on the ground. Once I hit him with a few punches, a few kicks, knees, elbows, he’s going to revert back to default settings and them default settings for him are shooting takedowns.”

Even a convincing win at UFC 329 may not immediately hand Pimblett a title shot. Arman Tsarukyan and Charles Oliveira are both in contention at lightweight, and an immediate rematch for Topuria remains a possibility. Pimblett has acknowledged that Tsarukyan is likely next in line regardless, and plans to reassess his own position in the division after the Saint Denis fight.