Paddy Pimblett pours cold water on UFC 319 fight booking rumor
On Monday, video surfaced of Dricus Du Plessis, who's slated to defend his middleweight title against Khamzat Chimaev on Aug. 16 in the UFC 319 headliner in Chicago, telling friends that the co-main event will feature Pimblett against Justin Gaethje. On Tuesday, Pimblett must've caught wind of the rumor circulating the internet as he reacted on X.
"Yous are mad if you think I'm fighting in August," Pimblett wrote, with two laughing emojis.
Pimblett's reaction should come as no surprise after he stepped into the cage this past Saturday at UFC 317 in Las Vegas to face off with new lightweight champion Ilia Topuria following his knockout win over Charles Oliveira. All three presumed lightweight title challengers – Pimblett, Gaethje and Arman Tsarukyan, the No. 1 contender in the UFC rankings – were cageside to witness Topuria's crowning moment as a two-division champion.
But it was Pimblett whom Joe Rogan called into the cage, which didn't sit well with UFC CEO Dana White. Pimblett has a three-year long beef with Topuria ever since punches flew during a March 2022 confrontation in London.
Pimblett, who is coming off third-round TKO win over Michael Chandler in April, is ranked No. 10 in the official UFC lightweight rankings after Topuria's entrance following UFC 317. Gaethje, who is 2-2 in his past four fights, is No. 4.
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