Paddy Pimblett was like many MMA followers the world over this previous Saturday evening as he watched UFC 322 occur from Madison Sq. Backyard in New York Metropolis. As you realize by now should you watched this weekend, Islam Makhachev was profitable in his bid to win the UFC Welterweight Championship in opposition to Jack Della Maddalena in the principle occasion of the night.
Pimblett is now left to consider what it’d imply for the way forward for Makhachev’s former division at 155 within the wake of Saturday evening’s card. If the feedback made by Paddy Pimblett on YouTube earlier Sunday are any indication, he’s involved about who he may face off in opposition to in his subsequent combat contained in the fabled Octagon.
“The Baddy” was watching a recording of Saturday evening’s card after he awoke on Sunday morning and filmed his reactions to the fights for the YouTube video. Ever since Ilia Topuria secured the then-vacant UFC Light-weight Championship this previous summer time, a title combat matching Paddy Pimblett with Topuria has been the previous’s goal.Embed from Getty Pictures
Paddy Pimblett Questioning About First Opponent of 2026
“Let’s see what’s taking place now with Islam [Makhachev] as a result of is Ilia going to stay to his phrase and say he’s going to maneuver up?,” contemplated Paddy Pimblett within the aftermath of the UFC 322 principal occasion on Saturday evening, “or is he going to stay to his different phrase and say he’s going to combat me subsequent? We don’t know what’s taking place. You by no means know.”
Whereas the UFC Welterweight Championship image received clearer after the UFC 322 principal occasion this weekend, the image because it pertains to a potential future opponent for Paddy Pimblett is barely extra out of focus. Pimblett did say he’ll be preventing within the first a part of 2026.
“I might find yourself preventing Ilia [Topuria],” he mentioned. “I might find yourself preventing Justin Gaethje as I assumed it was going to be in Abu Dhabi, however nobody is aware of what’s taking place till Islam decides what he’s doing as a result of Ilia’s saying he needs to combat him.”
Good Downside for Paddy Pimblett to Have
At the moment, Paddy Pimblett is sitting at No. 6 within the light-weight division, having final fought seven months in the past in Miami at UFC 314. He’s additionally at the moment undefeated below the UFC promotional banner at 7-0.
Throughout all competitions, “The Baddy” is undefeated in his final 9 MMA fights. His resume heading into the brand new 12 months is already wanting good irrespective of who his subsequent opponent occurs to be in his upcoming contest.
Merely put, Paddy Pimblett’s in as stable of a place as he might hope for going out of 2025. Give it some thought: He’s but to lose within the UFC and is firmly within the dialog for the division’s championship and his stature will solely enhance if he emerges victorious from his subsequent combat.
Paddy Pimblett Near a Title Already
Realistically talking, ought to Paddy Pimblett rating a victory in his first combat of 2026, opponent however, he’ll be, on the most, two fights away from a championship. Pimblett might put within the efficiency of his profession on one of many first UFC playing cards to stream on the promotion’s new United States streaming residence of Paramount Plus and put himself inside a whisker of a UFC Light-weight Championship alternative.
As “The Baddy” identified on YouTube earlier within the day, nevertheless, it’s all hinging on what Islam Makhachev decides to do within the wake of UFC 322 this previous weekend and whether or not or not a combat between Makhachev and Topuria finally ends up coming to cross. Will the attract of a contest in opposition to Topuria find yourself being too tantalizing for Makhachev to cross up?
No matter what occurs subsequent, Pimblett will firmly be within the dialog for the light-weight title because the calendar shifts to 2026 on the finish of subsequent month. This will likely be a most attention-grabbing story to observe play out within the early portion of 2026.
