Paddy Pimblett says his loss to Justin Gaethje earlier this year looks completely different now that Gaethje has become the undisputed UFC lightweight champion, and called out the shifting narratives that he believes define how MMA fans treat fighters.
Pimblett spoke to MMA Junkie and other reporters at the UFC 329 pre-fight press conference ahead of his co-main event against Benoit Saint Denis.
I got wrote off after that. Everybody said I got beat by him, an old man. Then, he goes and does that to Ilia Topuria, and all of a sudden he’s the best thing since sliced bread. This just shows how the goalposts get moved constantly. I said that after I fought him. I got more respect losing a fight than I did winning seven in a row in the UFC. It just shows how mad our fanbase is, doesn’t it?
He also maintained that he predicted Gaethje’s world title win immediately after their fight.
With him winning and becoming undisputed champion, it looks good for me. I said that after he beat me. I said he was going to beat Ilia Topuria. I said it was fate that he beat me. It was his destiny. He was going to win the world title at the White House. I was just in the way.
Pimblett lost to Gaethje by decision in January at UFC 324. He faces Saint Denis at UFC 329 on Saturday.
