The UFC had planned a fight between Paddy Pimblett and Justin Gaethje, according to former two-division champion Daniel Cormier, as the lightweight title picture continues to shift.
Cormier made the revelation while discussing the crowded 155-pound division, which now includes champion Ilia Topuria, leading contender Arman Tsarukyan, and top-ranked fighters including Pimblett and Gaethje.
“I know for a fact that [the UFC] wanted to do Paddy versus Justin,” said Cormier, according to The Independent.
“A win over Justin after what [Pimblett has] done already, now I would’ve bought Paddy fighting for the belt right now,” Cormier added, according to The Independent.
“Because I still believe that Paddy needs to continue to grow in the Octagon a little bit,” he continued, before referencing Pimblett’s recent victory over Michael Chandler and adding, “the way he beat Chandler, we’ve never seen that before.”
Tsarukyan has since strengthened his claim to a title shot with a recent win over Dan Hooker, leaving the UFC to determine whether Topuria’s next defence will come against the Armenian contender or via another high-profile matchup. Pimblett and Topuria have shared a public rivalry since a confrontation in 2022.
