Las Vegas — Justin Gaethje has said that he specifically wants to hurt Paddy Pimblett this Saturday, those comments coming after a mostly respectful build-up to their UFC 324 interim lightweight title fight and main event.
England’s Pimblett (23-3), on Wednesday, took those comments in stride ahead of his first UFC title fight. Especially a comment from Gaethje saying he wanted to make Pimblett wet himself.
“That one made me laugh, because he’d done it to someone in his first ever fight. But that’s our job,” said Pimblett, speaking with media outlets including Cageside Press. “We’re there to hit each other. We’re not having a pillow fight, we’re having a fight. And I know I’m going to hurt him. I know I am. So if he wants to try and hit me, he can. That’s what we’re here for, that’s the name of the game.”
Gaethje has claimed he could retire off a loss to Pimblett, which begs the question: will he be more cautious, or more aggressive than ever?
“It’s a very good question. He could be either or. We’re just going to have to see how the fight plays out. Obviously Trevor Wittman is a fantastic coach, he’s going to have a fantastic game plan. But I know my game plan will be better, I know it will work better. And I know that I will be able to put my game plan to good effect, and I’ll beat him up.”
“I just don’t see where he can beat me,” Pimblett added.
That said, Pimblett has admitted that he’s a fan of Justin Gaethje’s fighting style. Most fight fans are, after all.
“That’s going to be nice to have another legend’s name on my resume. It’s an honor to share the octagon with him. He’s someone I’ve been watching for years and years. He’s had some of the best fights I’ve watched in the UFC.”
As Pimblett put it, the people that you watch in MMA, you eventually want to fight and beat, and that’s what he plans on doing.
Signing on to fight Justin Gaethje has been compared to signing up for a car crash, with many fighters never the same after facing “The Highlight.” Pimblett, however, isn’t sweating that.
“He won’t be physically the same after this fight. I will,” Pimblett exclaimed. “I’ll be exactly the same. I’m going to put a beatdown on him like he’s never received, and I can promise you that.”
Watch the full UFC 324 media day appearance by Paddy Pimblett above.
