Paddy Pimblett has shut down suggestions he could face Justin Gaethje in August.
The Liverpudlian is well within the lightweight title mix, having recorded a career best victory over Michael Chandler at UFC 314 in April.
Pimblett has batted away claims he will fight Gaethje next monthGettyAt UFC 317, Pimblett clambered into the cage and confronted newly crowned champion Ilia Topuria after his KO victory over Charles Oliveira.
The newly crowned king indicated that he would like his next fight to be against Pimblett, and it appears the most likely.
Dricus Du Plessis claimed to leak that Pimblett would instead be fighting Justin Gaethje at the UFC 319 co-main event in Chicago.
It was a stunning revelation that sent the MMA fans into a frenzy, with the victor likely to earn his title shot that way.
The event is set to take place in August, a date in which Pimblett promptly dismissed.
He wrote: “You guys are mad if you think I’m fighting in August.”
Pimblett is unlikely to return in the immediate future, and is clearly going to fight in the final quarter of the year.
Gaethje himself is yet to pencil in a date, but could be a viable option.
Albeit it appears ‘The Baddy’ is likely to walk straight into a title shot, given his rising stardom and unbeaten streak.
Topuria is planning himself to return in December, which could be a realistic time frame for a title fight.
GettyPimblett instead looks more likely to face Topuria[/caption]Pimblett himself appears more interested in a shot for the belt.
And he believes it will be a fight comparable to Conor McGregor‘s showdown with Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2018 due to their deep personal rift.
He explained: “I hate him. I absolutely hate him. Like, I want to inflict pain on his life. You know what I mean? I
“I’d like that fight to go 4 minutes and 50 seconds into the fifth round and I’ve landed 907 elbows and I’ve disfigured his face.
“I don’t want a quick knockout. I want to put him through pain.
“I’m game to fight him before the end of the year. I’m game to fight him next year. But we’ll see what happens.
Gaethje is eyeing his own shot at the crown held by TopuriaGetty“We don’t know what the UFC is going to do. It’s not my decision. Ultimately it’s not his decision.
“It’s Dana [White], Hunter [Campbell], and Sean’s [Shelby] decision, but I think it’s the only fight to make.”
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