Paddy Pimblett Comments on Rumored August UFC Fight

Paddy Pimblett has responded to a rumor that he’s set to return to the Octagon for a UFC fight against Justin Gaethje in the UFC 319 co-main event scheduled to take place on Saturday, the 16th of August at United Center in Chicago, Illinois.

‘The Baddy’ is one of the UFC’s hottest commodities right now because of the momentum he’s built up after blasting past King Green and Michael Chandler with brutal ease. Considering the rivalry he has with the UFC’s newest lightweight champion, Ilia Topuria, a title-shot against the Spanish-Georgian seemed probable.

However, Dricus du Plessis threw a spanner in those works when he suggested earlier this week that Pimblett vs Gaethje was agreed for the UFC 319 event that he’s headlining against Khamzat Chimaev. The South African’s UFC championship is on the line. Now, Pimblett has reacted to that apparent booking.

Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett’s professional MMA records (as of 30/06/25)
	Justin Gaethje	Paddy Pimblett
Fights	31	26
Wins	26	23
Losses	5	3

Paddy Pimblett’s Next Fight Leaked — Not Ilia Topuria

Paddy Pimblett’s next fight has seemingly been leaked by a UFC champion. It’s not Ilia Topuria.

British superstar shoots down alleged bout against Justin Gaethje

Addressing the rumors on his social media platforms, Pimblett issued the following 10-word response:

“Yous are mad if you think I’m fighting in August.”

If Pimblett vs Gaethje fight was, indeed, in the works, then it could have explained the UFC boss Dana White’s disapproval of the viral face-off between Paddy and Topuria, after the lightweight fighter stormed to the championship with his lightning-quick victory over Charles Oliveira at UFC 317, which took place on the 28th of June at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

After Topuria gave Oliveira the worst thrashing of his extraordinary MMA career, UFC commentator Joe Rogan appeared to bring Pimblett, who was Octagonside, into the picture. Pimblett and Topuria could then be seen jawing, trashing one another, before video cameras aired face-off footage from them both.

Regardless of whether Topuria vs Pimblett takes place next, or in the near future, what’s clear is that the UFC already has promotional material it can use to help generate interest in one of the biggest fights that it could possibly make right now.

UFC is currently on a one-week hiatus before it returns with a UFC on ESPN show on the 12th of July in Nashville, Tennessee. The organization then moves to New Orleands for Dustin Poirier’s retirement fight against Max Holloway on the 19th of July.