Pimblett blames ego for UFC loss to Gaethje

Fighter Paddy Pimblett believes his ego was part of the reason he lost to Justin Gaethje in their interim UFC lightweight title fight in January.

Gaethje defeated the Liverpudlian on points in a gruelling encounter in Las Vegas in which Pimblett never managed to build any momentum.

It was the first loss of Pimblett’s UFC career and ended a nine-fight winning streak.

“I think it was a little bit of my ego got in the way,” Pimblett said on his YouTube channel reflecting on the fight.

“I wanted to knock him out. I wanted to show everyone I can strike. I wanted a war.

“When you’re trying to take him down in the fifth round after he bludgeoned you at the end of the second, it’s quite hard.

“Back to fight IQ. Back to the gameplan and not just swinging recklessly.”

Pimblett threw 170 strikes to Gaethje’s 200, with a majority of the contest being contested on the feet.

Gaethje, 37, knocked Pimblett down twice on the way to securing the interim belt and a shot at Ilia Topuria at UFC White House on 14 June.

Pimblett is back in camp and aiming to return to action at UFC 329 in July.

The 31-year-old is waiting to be assigned an opponent but Frenchman Benoit Saint-Denis, currently on a four-fight winning streak, is rumoured to be the current frontrunner.

Pimblett says he is eager to have a rematch with Gaethje in future.

“I’ve got to show everyone why I deserved to get that title shot, show everyone that I’m going to be getting another one in the near future,” Pimblett said.

“I hope [Justin] beats Ilia so I can fight him again.

“That’s all I’m hoping for. He’s got a big ask, beating Ilia Topuria.”