'Everyone needs to shut the f*** up' - Paddy Pimblett lashes out at weight criticism after UFC 329

Paddy Pimblett has brutally hit back at UFC fans criticising his infamous weight cuts following his dominant win over Benoit Saint-Denis.

Throughout his five-year spell in the UFC, Pimblett has become one of the most popular figures not just in MMA, but in combat sports in general.

The Liverpudlian has won fans over due to his exciting style inside the octagon and his vibrant and hilarious attitude outside of it.

But perhaps the one thing that has helped raise Pimblett's profile maybe even more than his UFC wins themselves is the stunning weight changes he undergoes between fights.

Pimblett competes in the UFC's lightweight division, meaning he must weight no more than 155 pounds (70.3 kg) when fighting, with an additional one-pound allowance granted for non-title fights.

Like most athletes in combat sports, Pimblett doesn't actually weight this much during normal life and instead undergoes a brutal weight cut during fight week to make sure he's ready to compete on the night.

But unlike many others, the 31-year-old has become known for putting on a massive amount of weight, leading to harsh criticism online from fans and former fighters.

However, Pimblett has clearly had enough, as he hit back at the criticism in a video posted to his YouTube channel documenting his weight cut ahead of his impressive first round win over Saint-Denis at UFC 329 earlier this month.

“I am the GOAT of weight cutting,” Pimblett claimed.

“Discipline and mental strength are what make me so good at weight cutting. You’ve got to be disciplined all the way through camp. Every single time I step in that cage I make weight.”

“I think everyone needs to shut the f*** up about my weight, lad. No b****ing is the number one rule, lad. If you start b****ing during the weight cut, it’s over.”

Despite this, it's clear that, as he continues to get closer to a undisputed title fight, Pimblett is no longer planning to put on quite as much weight in between fights, something detailed by his strength and conditioning coach Paul Reed.

"When you've done it badly like Paddy has in the past, he knows now that he's doing if differently, we've got some structure to it, and with that he's always going to be happy," Reed said.

"You've had the bad before, you start doing it well and you'll always make weight well."

What's next for Paddy Pimblett?

With the win over Saint-Denis, Pimblett has now climbed to fifth in the UFC's lightweight rankings and sits in prime position for a blockbuster fight later this year.

As for his opponent, it seems the UFC have a couple of options to consider, with several top fighters all rumoured to be next in line for Pimblett.

Without a doubt the most obvious choice would be the long-teased fight with former featherweight and lightweight champion Ilia Topuria due to the bitter rivalry between the pair.

READ MORE: Paddy Pimblett trolls Ilia Topuria by showing off $13k auction win after UFC Freedom 250

Ever since both men first arrived in the UFC, it's been abundantly clear that they aren't friends and now that Topuria has lost his belt, it could be the perfect time to match them against each other with the winner given a chance to redeem their losses to current champion Justin Gaethje.

However, a no.1 contender fight with former champion Charles Oliveira or even Max Holloway, who is coming off a bizarre first round win over Conor McGregor, are also options for UFC President Dana White to consider.