UFC lightweight contender Paddy Pimblett has disclosed the enormous weight cut he undertook before his victory over Benoit Saint Denis at UFC 329. Known for gaining considerable weight between fights due to his love of food, Pimblett’s cut for this event was notably one of the most significant ever seen in a lightweight MMA fighter.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Pimblett revealed that he dropped 46 pounds to make weight for UFC 329. He weighed in at 202 pounds on April 10 and managed to get down to 156 pounds by the official weigh-ins just a day before the fight, completing an intense weight cut.
Since his win over Saint Denis via first-round submission, Pimblett has yet to step back into the octagon, though a return before the end of 2026 is anticipated. If so, he is expected to be matched against a top-five lightweight contender. UFC president Dana White recently mentioned Pimblett as a promising opponent for former lightweight champion Ilia Topuria, particularly if the UFC forgoes an immediate rematch between Topuria and current champion Justin Gaethje.
Fans seem eager for a fresh matchup, especially since Gaethje decisively defeated Topuria in his initial lightweight title defense, making a rematch seem unearned. Similarly, despite Pimblett’s impressive performance against Saint Denis, he likely doesn’t merit a rematch with Gaethje yet, given he has only secured one win since losing to Gaethje at UFC 324 earlier this year.
Many believe the sensible approach would be to arrange a No. 1 contender bout between Pimblett and Topuria, while Gaethje faces the winner of UFC 331’s co-main event between Arman Tsarukyan and Mauricio Ruffy.
Fan Take: This revelation about Pimblett’s grueling weight cut highlights the intense physical demands fighters endure to compete at the highest level. A potential showdown between Pimblett and Topuria could electrify the lightweight division and shape the path toward the next title shot, keeping fans deeply invested in the sport’s evolving landscape.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
