UFC fans think Paddy “the Baddy” Pimblett has leaked who he will fight next as he looks to return to winning ways after suffering his first defeat in the promotion against Justin Gaethje in January.
Pimblett boasted a perfect UFC record of seven wins from as many fights before losing by unanimous decision to Gaethje for the interim UFC lightweight strap at UFC 324 back in January.
Gaethje will headline the UFC Freedom 250 card as he challenges Ilia Topuria for the undisputed lightweight title on June 15, while Pimblett has suggested he will return to the Octagon during International Fight Week on July 11.
Over the weekend, Pimblett shared several snaps of himself with UFC welterweights Ko Seok Hyeon and Dong Hyun Kim at Next Generation Gym, alongside the caption: “Great to have @stungunkim and @ko.seokhyeon in the gym today, some perfect rounds for me with some southpaws 👀.
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“They’ll be back with us sooner rather than later @nextgenmmalpool.
“Can’t wait to get over to Korea with them too – keep an eye out on mine and the Stun Gun’s YouTube channels for the videos we’re going to drop.”
The mention of southpaws prompted fans to speculate on the Scouser’s next opponent. Dan Hooker and Renato Moicano are two UFC stars who have been linked with a potential fight with Pimblett, although the mention of southpaws may appear to rule the pair out, as they are both orthodox.
Several fans took to social media to suggest that France’s Benoît Saint-Denis may be Pimblett’s next opponent.
One said: “Obviously, BSD lol.
“There’s no other southpaw that he’d logically be fighting.
“And Benoît has teased he’s fighting an Englishman next.”
Another added: “I’ve been banging this drum about Pimblett vs Benoît Saint-Denis constantly since his loss to Justin Gaethje in January. I have Pimblett winning – big fan of this match-up when announced.”
A third commented: “BSD vs Paddy is already official – what more are you looking for?”
Saint-Denis boasts a UFC record of nine wins and three losses, with the Frenchman beating Dan Hooker by TKO last time out at UFC 325 back in February.
The 30-year-old is currently on a four-fight win streak, also beating Beneil Dariush, Mauricio Ruffy and Kyle Prepolec in the last year.
Pimblett has previously made clear that he’d be willing to fight his fellow European when speaking back in February.
"It pissed me off that Saint-Denis moved above me for beating Dan Hooker,” he said.
“Why has he moved above me for beating Dan Hooker? What's gone on there?
"I will fight anyone, whichever name gets sent to me on a contract, I sign it and fight them. But Saint-Denis sounds like a good fight to me. Europe's two best lightweights going against each other."
Topics: Paddy Pimblett, UFC, MMA, Dan Hooker, Justin Gaethje
Luke Davies