Paddy Pimblett calls out unexpected UFC fighter for showdown this summer

Paddy Pimblett says he wants to make a return to the octagon this summer, with one particular name "sounding good" after he called him a "proper nice fella".

Last month, Pimblett's nine-fight unbeaten run came to an end at UFC 324 after all three judges in Las Vegas scored the lightweight bout in favour of opponent Justin Gaethje (49-46, 49-46, 48-47).

However, the Liverpudlian believes it was a closer fight than the judges scorecards suggested.

Reacting to the loss on his YouTube channel, Pimblett questioned the result after being poked in both eyes during the interim title bout. "I don't want to sound like a sore loser, but that changes the whole fight," he said.

"I'll be honest, he hit me afterwards because he hit me and started elbowing me, but I easily win the third round. So imagine if that never happens in the second."

Pimblett added: "My depth perception is off, they're shouting at me to get the takedown, but sometimes he looks far away, sometimes he looks close."

After rewatching the contest, Pimblett believes he won two out of five rounds, meaning if a point deduction had been given like he mentioned, Gaethje would not have been crowned the interim champion.

"For me, I win three and five," Pimblett said. "If a point got took off like it should've, lad, that's a draw. I don't want to sound bitter, you can't cry over spilled milk, but I feel a bit. I know how Jared Gordon felt, I'll put it that way.

"I knew the scorecards weren't going to be in our favor. That's why I did that little, 'I don't know,' to my mum and my dad because I half knew I lost. You can see my eye is bright red there. It should've all been 48-47."

So, what's next for Pimblett? The 31-year-old is open to facing one of the top lightweights, although it appears Benoit Saint Denis is at the top of his wishlist.

Denis recently extended his win streak after recording a second-round TKO of Dan Hooker in the co-main event at UFC 325.

"I’ll be honest with you, it’s all pissed me off that Saint Denis moved above me for beating that bum Dan Hooker," said Pimblett in his latest YouTube video. "What’s going on there?

"I’ll fight anyone, as you know, whatever name gets sent to me on a contract, I sign it and I fight them. But Saint Denis sounds like a good fight to me. Europe’s two best lightweights going at it against each other."

Benoit Saint Denis beat Dan Hooker at UFC 325. Image credit: Getty

"I’ll fight anyone, but I’ll be back in the summer," he added." Just let me know when and where."

Speaking ahead of his title fight against Gaethje, Pimblett was full of praise for Saint Denis.

"I really like Benoit Saint Denis," he said. "I think he's a proper nice fella. I like this fighting style. He comes to bang. I proper like Saint Denis. I hope he does well, but obviously if he's next for me, he's getting finished."