PADDY PIMBLETT’s dream of winning UFC gold was brutally shattered by Justin Gaethje.
‘The Baddy’ locked horns with the fan favourite for the interim lightweight title in the main event of UFC 324 in Las Vegas early this morning.
Former titleholder Gaethje was in many fight fans’ eyes the stiffest test of the Liverpudlian’s entire MMA career.
And he proved to be a bridge too far for the Liverpudlian, who was dropped twice on his way to suffering a unanimous decision defeat.
A crestfallen Pimblett fronted up to the world moments after his first octagon loss and was full of praise for Gaethje in his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan.
He said: “I wanted to be walking away with that belt, Joe. I know how tough I am anyway.
“I don’t need to prove it to anyone. But there’s no other man I’d rather lose to than ‘The Highlight’.
“Justin Gaethje is someone I’ve loved watching growing up watching the UFC and it shows why he’s a legend.”
Pimblett opened the fight in the southpaw stance and looked to land hard low kicks from range.
And = he surprisingly landed a huge right hand and a hard body kick seconds with just 30 seconds of the round remaining.
Confidence grew for Pimblett, who landed a flurry of shots and a huge knee.
But he found himself on the canvas after eating a flurry of shots against the cage, with an uppercut seemingly being the shot which did the damage.
He weathered the storm and eventually returned to his feet. And he landed another big knee through the middle midway through a sensational stanza.
The momentum of the stellar round was halted by an accidental eye poke from Gaethje.
Pimblett, thankfully, recovered and the pair immediately went back to it.
Gaethje landed a huge right hand in the final minute when promoted a wild flurry before the horn.
Pimblett well and truly shook off the cobwebs in the second, landing a hard left hook before going back to the low kicks.
Gaethje continued to throw himself into the fire but saw himself eating counter punches and knees.
Pimblett did a remarkable job of landing knees in the clinch, an area where many thought Gaethje might get the better of him.
Despite the hellfire coming his way, a cool, calm and collected Pimblett kept his hands down as he circled out of harm’s way.
Gaethje appeared to drop Pimblett with a knee following a front head lock
A few seconds later, Pimblett was sent crashing to the canvas thanks to a big right hand.
And he landed a vicious barrage of ground and pound before the horn.
Replays appeared to show that an accidental thumb to the eye hurt Pimblett before the right hand.
Pimblett showed miraculous powers of recovery again early in the third as she showed no signs of being dinged.
But he continued to allow himself to be put on the back foot, which invited yet more Gaethje pressure.
Pimblett hurt a seemingly tired Gaethje with a minute and 30 left on the clock with a good left hook.
But his momentum was stopped by an accidental low blow courtesy of a flying knee.
Gaethje recovered and closed out his offence for the round with a big right hand and left hook.
Two big right hands and a hard left hook from Gaethje stung Pimblett after the restart.
Pimblett saw a takedown attempt stuffed by the former champion and was once again forced to operate on the back foot.
His bell was once again rung by a big left hand against the cage, which prompted yet another onslaught for Gaethje.
Pimblett caught a second wind late in the round and hurt Gaethje with a wild flurry.
Both men immediately traded heavy leather after the final restart, with Gaethje landing a hellacious right cross.
Pimblett went all in for a takedown with three minutes of the round remaining, dragging Gaethje to the fence.
Gaethje defended well and brilliantly dodged a spinning back elbow attempt from Pimblett on the break.
Fatigue had well and truly overcome Pimblett in the final minute.
But he continued to come forward and seemingly hurt Gaethje in the final seconds of the bout.
Both men embraced after the final horn brought the curtain down on an absolute epic.
All three judges saw the contest the same way, turning in 48-47, 49-46 and 49-46 scorecards.
Pimblett has vowed to bounce back from his maiden UFC loss and get back in the title mix.
He said: “I thought 48-47 was a fair scorecard. I’m not gonna lie, he hit me with a body shot in the first round, he hit me in the solarplexus and it got me.
“I thought I was winning the first round up until that point.
“But, you live and you learn. I’m 31, I’ll be back better. You haven’t seen the last of me.”
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