Paddy Pimblett bounced back from his first UFC loss in a big way on Saturday night.
‘The Baddy’ fell to a unanimous decision defeat after having a five-round war with Justin Gaethje in January.
At UFC 329, Paddy Pimblett got his career back on track by choking Benoit Saint-Denis out cold in just 52 seconds.
The 31-year-old Englishman named Justin Gaethje, Ilia Topuria, Max Holloway, Charles Oliveira, and Arman Tsarukyan as potential opponents for his next fight in the aftermath of Conor McGregor‘s comeback card.
Who should he face? Let’s rank the fighters Pimblett suggested following UFC 329 from best to worst.
- LATEST NEWS: Benoit Saint-Denis breaks his silence after being choked out cold in 52 seconds by Paddy Pimblett at UFC 329
Who should Paddy Pimblett fight next?
Make your pick and explain it in the comments. ⬇️
1. Ilia Topuria
Everyone wants to see Paddy Pimblett finally settle his beef with Ilia Topuria after UFC 329.
The lightweight rivals famously brawled with each other at a hotel ahead of UFC London in 2022.
For the past four years, Pimblett and Topuria have been talking up their eventual Octagon showdown.
The only thing standing in the way of it happening next is timing. Pimblett hopes to compete one more time in 2026, and he doesn’t believe Topuria will have recovered from the injuries Justin Gaethje inflicted on him at UFC Freedom 250 before the end of the year.
Topuria’s team says he’ll be ready to return in December, so let’s not rule out a Pimblett fight just yet.
2. Charles Oliveira
Paddy Pimblett proved he’s one of the best submission artists in MMA during his latest win.
The 2nd-degree BJJ black belt believes he could do the same thing he did to Benoit Saint-Denis to Charles Oliveira.
‘Do Bronx’ is a mouthwatering opponent option as the most successful submission artist in UFC history.
Oliveira also holds the BMF belt, which would allow his fight with Pimblett to headline a numbered event.
The Brazilian fan favorite has made it clear he wants to rematch Justin Gaethje for the lightweight title next, but if that fight doesn’t happen, Pimblett seems like the next best option.
Who is the current face of the UFC and why?
Paddy Pimblett has claimed this title following his UFC 329 win
3. Arman Tsarukyan
Arman Tsarukyan is another lightweight fighter that Paddy Pimblett is currently beefing with.
The number one 155lb contender has been trading insults with Pimblett for the past few years.
Tsarukyan appears to be next in line for a shot at Justin Gaethje, but his inactivity and strained relationship with Dana White may stop that fight from happening.
If the UFC CEO decides Tsarukyan needs to win one more before getting a shot at MMA’s ultimate prize, it makes complete sense to book him against Pimblett in a final eliminator.
4. Justin Gaethje
Justin Gaethje was a name mentioned after UFC 329 out of hope more than expectation.
Paddy Pimblett fought well, but he was the clear loser when they fought just a few months ago.
It makes no sense for them to run it back right now, but don’t rule out their rematch happening in 2027.
5. Max Holloway
Max Holloway sits at the bottom of this list because he appears to be on a different path.
‘Blessed’ ruled himself out of the Paddy Pimblett sweepstakes by revealing his plan to sit out for the rest of the year after UFC 329.
Holloway has also just moved up to welterweight and has expressed his desire to fight there again, which doesn’t align with Pimblett’s pursuit of lightweight gold.
On paper, Holloway vs. Pimblett is a fun fight, but the reality is we’ll most likely never see it happen.
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