Paddy Pimblett has expressed strong disagreement with the judges’ unanimous decision at UFC 324, where he lost to Justin Gaethje last month. The British fighter believes the match should have ended in a draw, arguing that fouls committed against him were significant enough to cause a point deduction in his favor. Pimblett contends that several eye pokes he suffered warranted this penalty, which would have altered the final scorecards.
Why Pimblett Sees the Fight as Closer Than Official Scores Indicate
Pimblett, a rising star in the promotion, was defeated by the seasoned contender Gaethje with all three judges scoring the fight in Gaethje’s favor, including two judges who had the score as wide as 49-46. However, after reviewing the fight on a larger screen at home, Pimblett stated he felt he had won rounds three and five. He shared a video of his post-fight reactions in which he said,
If he got a point took off like he should have, that’s a draw… I don’t want to sound bitter, you can’t cry over spilt milk.
Pimblett’s belief is that the fouls he endured, particularly repeated eye pokes, were not properly penalized during the match, which directly impacted the official result.
Reflecting on Past Decisions and Comparisons to Jared Gordon
In his video, Pimblett also compared his experience to that of Jared Gordon, who lost a contentious decision in December 2022 that many fans felt he deserved to win. Pimblett admitted that while he originally accepted those scorecards as fair, his views have softened over time when it comes to judging controversies. He recounted,
I knew the scorecards weren’t going to be in our favor, that’s why I did the little ‘I don’t know’ [gesture] to my mum,
and added,
I half knew I’d lost but you can see my eyes, bright red there. I heard 49-46 and I knew, they all should have been 48-47.
Pimblett Shows Sportsmanship Despite Controversial Outcome
Although frustrated by the scoring, Pimblett acknowledged Gaethje’s skill as well as the respect shown to him by Gaethje’s team. After the fight, Pimblett was approached in the cage by Gaethje’s family, his manager Ali Abdelaziz, and former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman. Pimblett noted,
Usman came over and spoke to me to tell me what I’d been doing to stay in the fight and all that,
and added that Abdelaziz and the others were courteous and supportive.
Encouragement from Champions Fuels Pimblett’s Resolve
Pimblett shared that Usman encouraged him to come back stronger after facing a legend like Gaethje. He said,
“I think Usman was saying to me that I’ll come back better from this and all that.”
He emphasized the weight of receiving support from a fighter of Usman’s caliber, calling him one of the greatest welterweights ever. Pimblett went on to assert with confidence,
So having him say something like that to you, you know you’re on the right path. I know I’m going to be a world champion anyway, it’s just going to be a little bit later than expected.
What This Means for Paddy Pimblett’s Future
This contested decision highlights ongoing concerns about judging fairness in MMA, especially regarding fouls like eye pokes that can influence fight outcomes. For Pimblett, the experience appears to have strengthened his determination to claim a world title, even if it means overcoming setbacks along the way. His candid reflections and respect for his opponents demonstrate maturity amid frustration, hinting that fans can expect him to return with renewed focus in upcoming fights.
