Pimblett vs Gaethje live: UFC 324 fight updates and results as Paddy The Baddy loses brutal bout
Latest updates after ‘Paddy The Baddy’ suffered a brutal loss to Justin Gaethje with the interim lightweight belt on the line
Paddy Pimblett suffered a brutal, devastating defeat at UFC 324 on Saturday, as Justin Gaethje beat the Liverpudlian star in a five-round war in Las Vegas.
Gaethje won a chaotic contest at the T-Mobile Arena with scores of 48-47, 49-46 and 49-46, claiming the interim lightweight title in the process, and costing Pimblett a shot at his bitter rival, Ilia Topuria.
Heading into Saturday’s main event, Pimblett was 7-0 in the UFC, but against Gaethje, he faced his most-experienced opponent yet. And Gaethje’s experience was one of numerous factors that secured him victory over “Paddy The Baddy” in Sin City.
The co-main event was due to see all-time great Amanda Nunes emerge from retirement to challenge an old teammate, bantamweight queen Kayla Harrison, but the latter sustained an injury last week. As such, Sean O’Malley vs Song Yadong was pushed up the card, with “Suga’ Sean” winning a narrow decision to potentially earn a shot at his old title.
See results from UFC 324 and re-live the action below.
UFC 324 live: Paddy Pimblett beaten by Justin Gaethje
Pimblett dedicates the performance to a couple of men close to him who took their own lives this year. As ever, he speaks up in support of men’s mental health.
He also pays tribute to Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, players for Pimblett’s beloved Liverpool FC, who died in a car crash last summer.
UFC 324 live: Paddy Pimblett beaten by Justin Gaethje
Pimblett: “I wanted to be walking away with that belt, and I know how tough I am anyway. I don’t need to prove it to anyone. I wanted to leave with that belt.
“But there’s no man I’d rather lose to than The Highlight, someone I grew up watching.
“It shows why he’s a legend, right there. I thought 48-47 was a fair scorecard,
“I’m not gonna lie, he hit me with a body shot in that first round, hit me right in the solar plexus, and it got me. I thought iIwas winning the round up until that point.
“I’m 31, you haven’t seen the last of me.”
UFC 324 live: Paddy Pimblett beaten by Justin Gaethje
Gaethje: “I’ve just really got to trust my coach, ‘move him backwards and put your head on his chest’. I landed some MEAN ground and pound, that s*** was nasty!”
UFC 324 live: Paddy Pimblett beaten by Justin Gaethje
Gaethje: “I knew that I had to put him on his back foot. He’s very dangerous and has great timing. I had to work really hard, but champions move forward, and I just showed you why that is a must.”
UFC 324 live: Paddy Pimblett beaten by Justin Gaethje
Gaethje: “Scousers cannot get knocked out! This Scouser does not get knocked out. What a f***ing gangster.”
Before the result was read out, Paddy asked his team if he even won a round.
UFC 324 live: Paddy Pimblett beaten by Justin Gaethje
Justin Gaethje def. Paddy Pimblett via unanimous decision (48-47, 49-46, 49-46)
There it is! What a WAR.
UFC 324 live: Paddy Pimblett vs Justin Gaethje
Round five
There’s a long clinch, and when they finally separate, both men throw wild punches, with Paddy jumping for knees as well.
He lands a long combination now, with one minute to go! Gaethje grabs ahold of him...
It’s a frenzied end, and the buzzer finally sounds!
Gaethje will SURELY be crowned interim champion, but Pimblett showed IMMENSE heart.
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