Paddy Pimblett DISSES Arman Tsarukyan, Reacts to Gaethje Beating Topuria, Conor vs Max Predictions

UFC lightweight Paddy Pimblett held a pre-fight media availability ahead of his Saturday bout against Benoit Saint-Denis on the Conor McGregor card in Las Vegas. The Liverpool fighter offered his most detailed account yet of the eye poke that affected his January loss to Justin Gaethje, claiming the thumb penetrated so deep he felt it touch his brain and couldn't see for two rounds. Pimblett expressed satisfaction that Gaethje's subsequent championship victory over Ilia Topuria validated his own performance, noting he received more respect for losing to Gaethje than for winning seven straight UFC fights. The fighter also took aim at top contender Arman Tsarukyan, criticizing him for having only one fight in three years and accusing him of avoiding real competition in favor of wrestling exhibitions and luxury lifestyle. Regarding his co-main event slot under McGregor's return fight, Pimblett downplayed the significance, stating it's just another fight with less pressure since McGregor draws all the media attention. He predicted that if McGregor wins, it will need to happen in the first two rounds before Max Holloway takes over. Pimblett emphasized the importance of sticking to his game plan against Saint-Denis, acknowledging that abandoning strategy cost him the Gaethje fight. He dismissed questions about new AI rankings dropping him from fifth to ninth, and debunked a persistent rumor about McGregor visiting his house in 2017. The fighter promoted his training partner George Staines as the next Liverpool star and briefly discussed England's World Cup prospects.

• Paddy Pimblett claims Justin Gaethje's thumb touched his brain during an eye poke that left him unable to see for two rounds in their January fight.
• Pimblett received more respect from fans for losing to Gaethje than for winning seven consecutive UFC fights, highlighting MMA fan base inconsistency.
• The Liverpool fighter attacked Arman Tsarukyan for having only one fight in three years and avoiding real competition for wrestling exhibitions and luxury lifestyle.
• Pimblett predicts Conor McGregor must win in the first two rounds Saturday or Max Holloway will take over the fight.
• Pimblett says abandoning his game plan to brawl with Gaethje was stupid and cost him the fight, vows to stick to strategy against Saint-Denis.
• The fighter dismissed new AI rankings dropping him from fifth to ninth in the lightweight division, saying nobody is paying attention to them.
• Pimblett debunked rumors that Conor McGregor knocked on his door in 2017 when he was still living with his mother in Liverpool.