Daniel Cormier: Paddy Pimblett One Victory Away from UFC Title Shot
Daniel Cormier, a UFC Hall of Famer, is a strong advocate for Paddy Pimblett’s potential title shot in the lightweight division. Cormier stated that Pimblett needs to secure a victory over a significant name to solidify his status. Currently, Pimblett holds an impressive record of 22 wins and 4 losses in mixed martial arts (MMA), with a perfect 7-0 in the UFC.
Paddy Pimblett’s Path to a Title Shot
Pimblett has been pursuing a fight against UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria, who has an undefeated record of 17-0 in MMA and 9-0 in the UFC. Both fighters covet this matchup, underscoring its importance in the division.
Recent Developments in the Lightweight Division
After Arman Tsarukyan’s dominant victory over Dan Hooker at UFC Fight Night 265 in Qatar, Cormier emphasized the need for the UFC to schedule a matchup between Topuria and Tsarukyan.
- Ilia Topuria: 17-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC Champion
- Paddy Pimblett: 22-4 MMA, 7-0 UFC, currently ranked No. 5
- Justin Gaethje: 26-5 MMA, former interim champion, 9-5 UFC record
Cormier believes that a win for Pimblett over Justin Gaethje, who has triumphed in three of his last four fights, would elevate Pimblett’s title aspirations. Gaethje recently defeated Rafael Fiziev in a notable performance at UFC 313.
“I know for a fact that they wanted to do Paddy vs. Justin,” Cormier said on his YouTube channel. He asserted that defeating Gaethje would warrant Pimblett’s claim for a championship bout. Cormier noted that while Pimblett has shown great potential, further development in his fighting skills is still necessary.
With the lightweight division heating up, fans and analysts are closely watching to see how Pimblett’s journey unfolds, especially with a potential fight against either Gaethje or Topuria looming on the horizon.
