Paddy “The Baddy” Pimblett must follow a strict UFC rule, or he could be stripped of the chance to compete for the interim UFC lightweight title against Justin Gaethje at UFC 324.
Gaethje and Pimblett will go toe-to-toe in Las Vegas in the early hours of Sunday (January 25) with both aiming to become the interim lightweight champion while undisputed champion Ilia Topuria deals with issues in his personal life.
The bout will be Pimblett’s first shot at a UFC belt, having won all seven of his fights under the promotion’s banner, while Gaethje won the interim belt with victory over Tony Ferguson in May 2020, having also fought and lost title bouts against Khabib Nurmagomedov and Charles Oliveira during his UFC career.
But both men must follow a strict rule to ensure they are permitted to fight for the belt.
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Non-title bouts usually allow a one-pound weight leeway, so fighters can still fight if they weigh in at 156lbs which is over the 155lb lightweight limit.
The Liverpudlian took advantage of this ahead of his last fight against Michael Chandler at UFC 314 back in the spring of 2025.
But Pimblett and Gaethje will both have to make sure they are below the 155lb limit come Friday’s ceremonial weigh-in.
So what would happen if either fighter missed weight, and would the main event be called off?
The fighter who missed weight would no longer be able to fight for the title but would still be allowed to compete.
For example, if Pimblett weighed in over the 155lb limit but Gaethje made weight, the latter would still be crowned interim champ if he won, but the Scouser would not if he secured victory.
Despite it being well-documented that the Englishman loves his food, he is clearly in good shape ahead of the fight and has yet to miss weight since arriving at the UFC in 2021.
However, he did fail to make weight twice during his time with Cage Warriors.
“I’ll never fight in January ever again”
As previously mentioned, Pimblett’s love for food is well-known. And due to his fight being in January, this meant the 31-year-old had to stay disciplined while everyone else overindulged over the festive period.
For that reason, he has stressed how he will “never fight” during the first month of the year again.
Speaking to SPORTbible, on behalf of Casino Guru, about the sacrifices he’s made over Christmas, he said: “I've had to make 155 before. I've made 145 before. I even made 135 when I was a kid.
“155 is easy; I make it every time without fail. I've never missed lightweight and I never will.
“It's part of the game, but I've never fought this early in the year.
“I've never fought in January, and I'll never fight in January ever again. I won't.
“The only reason I'm doing this fight is because it's for the interim title and it's the first Paramount+ card.
“It shows that he (Dana White) actually trusts me to put on a show because, if he didn't, he wouldn't have me headline on it.
“We're in the best position we’ve ever been in.”
Topics: Paddy Pimblett, UFC, Justin Gaethje, MMA
Luke Davies