‘Cherry-picked’ or deserving? Why Pimblett got UFC title shot

Paddy Pimblett has said he will become a champion in the UFC from the moment he took over the title in 2021, but not everyone has made that prediction.

The UFC has staged an interim title fight between Pimblett and Justin Gaethje with lightweight champion Ilia Topuria declaring she won’t fight in the first quarter of 2026 due to issues with his personal life.

On January 24th, the pair will square off in the headliner bout at UFC 324 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Some people were taken aback by Liverpool’s Pimblett’s speed when the 30-year-old was deemed “cherry-picked” for the opportunity, according to New Zealand lightweight Dan Hooker, who claims the 30-year-old was “cherry-picked” for the opportunity.

The 30-year-old ranks fifth in the lightweight division of the UFC, but he has lost all of his fights.

Although MMA is a sport, the UFC is a business, which is the main justification for Pimblett being given the opportunity.

Businesses want to profit from the UFC, which does so by charging fans to watch the fights it presents.

More people pay and receive UFC pay, and the more money they make.

The UFC’s new broadcast partnership with US company Paramount+ will kick off the event, which may have had an impact on choosing to choose one of their biggest stars as the card’s top card.

One of the most well-known fighters in the UFC is Pimblett, whose lively personality and passionate speeches about men’s mental health led to his development.

However, Pimblett’s personality is not the only thing that matters; his work is also fascinating.

His all-around ability is demonstrated by two of those, three of whom came via knockout and three by submission.

His most impressive performance to date came in March when he defeated former champion Michael Chandler in front of both his feet and the ground.

After that victory, which has made him a member of the lightweight top five, UFC commentator Jon Anik welcomed Pimblett to “the elite.”

Some critics claim that Pimblett’s matches, which included victories over Chandler, Tony Ferguson, and Bobby Green, were favorable to the Briton and that they were close to their careers.

When Pimblett and Ferguson met in 2023, Chandler was 38, and Green was 37 the following year.

There aren’t many other standout competitors that the UFC could have used to promote an interim lightweight title fight besides Armenian Arman Tsarukyan.

Tsarukyan, who is first in the lightweight rankings and defeated Hooker, who was sixth-ranked last week in a UFC match against Pimblett and Gaethje, can feel disappointed.

He is on a five-fight winning streak and has already won ten of his 12 UFC fights. Five of those victories came in stoppage.

Tsarukyan is left out in the cold for an extended period due to the success of Pimblett and Gaethje, who is likely to face Topuria when the Georgian-Spaniard returns.

Due to his pedigree and his exciting fighting style, Gaethje was chosen as Pimblett’s opponent.

The 37-year-old American has won nine of his past 14 UFC fights, six of which were knockouts.

If he was tipped over for a title shot, he also threatened to retire.

Gaethje has a record of 14 against his entertaining, aggressive style, which places him seventh on the all-time list for fight night bonuses.

Both of the most well-known athletes on the roster will eventually be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame, but Topuria has already convincingly knocked them out.

Should he defeat Gaethje, perhaps Pimblett has been chosen by the UFC to give the title match new life.

A fight between Topuria and Pimblett also has a history with Topuria, with the pair having a feud at a hotel before UFC London in 2022.

Gaethje will face Tom Aspinall in 2023, making him the second British interim champion if the Liverpudlian wins in his 26-fight career.

Only three Britons, Michael Bisping (2016), Leon Edwards (2022), and Tom Aspinall (2023), have ever won uncontested UFC titles.