Paddy Pimblett says he would have considered retiring had he lost to Benoit Saint-Denis at UFC 329 last weekend.

Pimblett, 31, submitted the Frenchman inside 52 seconds of the pair’s lightweight contest at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

The victory reignited Pimblett’s pursuit of the title following the Liverpudlian’s defeat by Justin Gaethje for the interim belt in January.

Speaking after the win, which was his 24th in 28 fights, Pimblett revealed he had told his coach Paul Rimmer he would consider leaving the sport if he couldn’t beat Saint-Denis.

“This fight camp wasn’t easy. About four, five weeks ago I turned to Paul and said: ‘If I don’t win this fight, what’s the point in fighting anymore? I might as well retire’,” said Pimblett.

“If I can’t beat BSD I’m never going to be world champ and that’s what I do this for. I do this to be the best in the world.”

Last month, American Gaethje beat Ilia Topuria for the undisputed title, setting up a potential rematch with Pimblett.

“Justin Gaethje beat Ilia Topuria and it was one of the biggest kicks up the arse I’ve ever had. It lit a fire underneath me and the last couple weeks of this training camp have been unbelievable,” added Pimblett.

Saint-Denis, 30, was on a four-fight win streak and was expected to offer Pimblett a test but had no answer for the Briton’s high-level jiu-jitsu.

Pimblett has moved four places up the UFC’s lightweight rankings to fifth following the win, with Saint-Denis slipping to eighth.

Although a Pimblett rematch with Gaethje would be an exciting prospect for fans, there are a number of fighters ranked higher who can also stake a claim for a title shot.

Topuria has said his “story” with Gaethje is not over, while second-ranked Arman Tsarukyan is on a five-fight win streak.

Former champion Charles Oliveira, who is ranked third, is on a two-fight win streak and beat Gaethje in 2022, while fourth-ranked Holloway beat Conor McGregor in a welterweight contest at UFC 329.

Holloway also holds a victory over Gaethje, having knocked him out in 2024 in a finish described by UFC commentator Joe Rogan as the “KO of the century”.