Former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold has explained why he isn’t a big fan of the promotion that Paddy Pimblett is trying to push as hard as he thinks they are.
Next month, Paddy Pimblett will face Justin Gaethje for the UFC interim lightweight championship in the main event of UFC 324. The winner is expected to challenge Ilia Topuria for the undisputed title sometime later in 2026, but at this time the timeline for Topuria’s return is unclear due to his ongoing personal issues.
Everyone knows the Ultimate Fighting Championship wants to see Paddy Pimblett succeed. He is currently one of the biggest names in all of mixed martial arts and as he prepares to turn 31 years old, he is in the midst of his physical prime. Plus, ‘The Baddy’ has a built-in history with Topuria, which would make a future title clash between them all the more intriguing.
However, in a recent interview, Luke Rockhold spoke out and asked the UFC about the way they were pushing Paddy Pimblett.
Luke Rockhold questions Paddy Pimblett’s big push
“I think they’re doing everything they can to put little Paddy in a title situation,” Rockhold told Submission Radio. “I get annoyed with fighters who think the interim title means something. You see guys like Justin Gaethje and he knows it.”
“He knows that none of that really means much to him because he wants to be the real champion. Then Paddy talks about him being champion and this and that, it’s already there. It’s like, ‘that belt means something? Come on.’
“They’re doing everything they can to give Paddy the best matchups to become champion and bring that love back to Britain. So I don’t know, it’s not my favorite.”
Quotes via Bloody elbow
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