Paddy Pimblett Would Vacate UFC Gold Before Fighting Teammate George Staines

Paddy Pimblett has drawn a firm line in the sand regarding his UFC future, stating he would rather vacate a championship belt than fight teammate George Staines. The Liverpool lightweight, who recently returned to winning ways, views his gym mates as family, making a title clash unthinkable.

Pimblett's Unbreakable Bond with Next Gen Teammates

Pimblett's loyalty to his training partners at Next Generation MMA Liverpool is absolute. When asked about a potential fight with the newly-signed George Staines, Pimblett was unequivocal. "No, we'd never fight. Nobody in our gym does that," he told Kolos MMA. He elaborated that the group trains together daily and are "more family than teammates." This stance means that if both men ever reached the top of the lightweight division, Pimblett would choose to move up a weight class or relinquish the title entirely rather than face Staines. This principle shows the tight-knit culture at his gym, which recently celebrated Staines' spectacular 61-second slam knockout win on Dana White's Contender Series last month.

Scathing Assessment of Arman Tsarukyan's UFC 331 Win

Never one to mince words, Pimblett offered a blunt critique of top contender Arman Tsarukyan's performance at UFC 331 in September. Despite Tsarukyan scoring a knockout victory over Mauricio Ruffy, Pimblett was far from impressed with the display leading up to the finish. He stated that Tsarukyan "looked pretty sh*t" for the majority of the fight, pointing out holes in his game that were evident before the decisive strike landed. This analysis comes from a fighter deeply invested in the lightweight landscape as he plots his own path back to title contention.

Leaving the Door Open for Misfits Boxing

While his immediate focus remains on the UFC, Pimblett is not closing off other avenues. The 31-year-old was recently spotted at a Misfits Boxing event in London and, when probed, expressed openness to a potential crossover in the future. "You never know," Pimblett said. "We'll see if the money's right in a couple of years." He confidently claimed he could "take out the entire Misfits roster in a single night," but emphasized any move would be contingent on the financial offer. This follows the path of Michael 'Venom' Page, who transitioned to Misfits after a successful UFC stint.

Rebounding from the Gaethje Loss

Pimblett's current narrative is shaped by his first UFC defeat, a five-round battle for the interim lightweight title against Justin Gaethje at UFC 324 in January. He lost that fight but demonstrated durability by going the distance. He responded emphatically at UFC 329, submitting the dangerous Benoit Saint-Denis in just 52 seconds. That swift victory re-established his status as a major player at 155 pounds and silenced doubts about his resilience after the championship setback.

• Pimblett would vacate a UFC title before fighting teammate George Staines, whom he considers family.
• He criticized Arman Tsarukyan's recent win, saying the contender looked poor before his UFC 331 knockout.
• A future move to Misfits Boxing is possible if the financial offer is compelling enough.
• His last fight was a 52-second submission win over Benoit Saint-Denis at UFC 329, rebounding from a loss to Justin Gaethje.