PADDY PIMBLETT was sent to the hospital after his bloody UFC 324 defeat to Justin Gaethje.
The Liverpudlian’s dream of becoming the UK’s fourth UFC champion was shattered by Gaethje in the main event of MMA leader’s first Paramount event in Las Vegas on Sunday morning.
Pimblett was dropped THREE TIMES on his way to suffering a unanimous decision defeat in Sin City.
The 31-year-old was bloodied by ‘The Highlight’, so much so that the UFC brass immediately sent him to a nearby Vegas hospital for further medical checks
UFC supremo Dana White said in the post-fight press conference: “We sent Paddy Pimblett straight to the hospital and we’re gonna send Gaethje too.
Pimblett showed an iron chin throughout the fight, in which he took shots which would’ve taken out lesser men.
White said of the Liverpudlian’s toughness: “He got dropped a bunch of times.
“And he obviously took some big shots from a guy who knocks everybody out.
“But I don’t know if it’s going to [affect him later in his career].
“But you could say the same thing about Justin Gaethje. ‘How was his chin gonna be after the Max Holloway fight?’
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“It’s tough to tell. You don’t ever wanna see guys take too much punishment.
“But I don’t know if tonight affected Paddy’s longevity in his career at all.
“He showed tonight that he’s tough, he’s durable and he can take a punch.
“He can take a lot of punches, actually.
Pimblett cut a crestfallen figure after his first loss in MMA’s top promotion, which he’s vowed to bounce back from.
He said: “I wanted to be walking away with that belt, Joe. I know how tough I am anyway.
He can take a lot of punches.”
Dana White on Paddy Pimblett
“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.”
“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.”
