Paddy Pimblett Next Fight Options: Five Possibilities For Paddy The Baddy After Michael Chandler Victory

Following the biggest win of his career to date, we take a look at five options for Paddy Pimblett’s next fight after his statement victory against Michael Chandler.

The thirty-year-old Liverpudlian dominated his opponent to climb into the top 10 of the lightweight rankings.

Chandler had no answer and was beaten both on the ground and on his feet, with UFC president Dana White calling Pimblett the ‘real deal’.

Paddy ‘the baddy’ Pimblett has now won seven fights since ing the UFC in 2021, and has said he wants one more victory in 2025 before a title shot next year.

In an interview after the fight with Chandler, he listed several fighters he would be interested in facing.

Below, we’ve listed five options for Paddy Pimblett’s next fight.

Paddy Pimblett’s Next Fight: Five Possibilities

Charles Oliveira

Top of Paddy Pimblett’s next fight wish-list is Charles Oliviera.

The Brazilian is ranked second in the lightweight division and the former champion holds the UFC record for the most finishes, with 20.

Oliviera also holds a UFC record with 16 submission victories, so this fight would give Pimblett a great opportunity to prove himself.

Pimblett said of Oliviera: “I want to be a world champion and beating a former champion in Oliveira… he gets called the best submission artist the world has ever seen.

“So I’d love to go up against that because I think I’ve got better submissions than him.”

Dustin Poirier

Another legendary fighter, Dustin Poirier is seen by many as the best fighter to have never won an un disputed title.

At 36, the American is rumoured to be retiring after his next fight, so there could be a huge opportunity for Pimblett to face him with massive amounts of coverage and hype.

Justin Gaethje

Another elite fighter who failed to win an undisputed belt is Justin Gaethje.

Although he held the interim belt in 2020, he was stopped by Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2020 and Oliveira in 2022 while trying to win the undisputed championship.

Pimblett has described Gaethje as a ‘legend’ and somebody he would also love to face.

He said: “These are all names etched in the history of the lightweight division – names people recognise and love – so beating them would be boss.”

Ilia Topuria

The feud between Pimblett and Ilia Topuria is well-known.

Topuria vacated his featherweight title in February in order to move up to the lightweight division.

In 2022, the pair clashed backstage at UFC London, and with the pair now in the same weight division, a fight seems inevitable eventually.

“I’d love to welcome him to 155lb but apparently he’s sitting out and waiting for a title shot,” Pimblett told BBC Sport.

“I’d forgotten about him, that’s how irrelevant he is. What I’ve just done to Chandler is half the blueprint to beating him.”

Arman Tsarukyan

The final fighter Pimblett has openly discussed is Arman Tsarukyan.

The Armenian is top of the lightweight rankings and due to fight for the title in January, but pulled out of his bout with Makhachev due to injury.

Dana White has suggested Tsarukyan won’t get another immediate title fight once he’s returned from injury, leaving Pimblett as a possible opponent.

Tsarukyan described Pimblett as having had “the easiest path to the top in the UFC”, while Pimblett responded by calling the Armenian a “sausage”.