Pimblett expects next fight to be against Gaethje, eyes title shot

UFC lightweight contender Paddy Pimblett is confident he'll likely stand across from Justin Gaethje in his next fight.

Pimblett (23-3) is coming off one of the most notable wins of his career after securing a third-round TKO over Michael Chandler at UFC 314 in April. The victory vaulted the 30-year-old from the promotion's No. 12-ranked fighter to No. 8 in the 155-pound division. He sports a 7-0 record in the UFC since his first fight with the promotion in 2021.

"I'm just planning on myself in October," Pimblett told ESPN's James Regan. "I think it will more than likely be Justin Gaethje because Max (Holloway) and Dustin (Poirier) are fighting, that's four and five (in the UFC's lightweight rankings).

"Obviously, Justin is a legend. He comes out and he has a scrap. You can't not like Justin Gaethje, he comes out and has a scrap every time. But he's another one who is coming to the back end of his career, and I really think that I finish him."

Gaethje, a former interim lightweight champion, rebounded from a fifth-round knockout loss to Holloway at UFC 300 by earning a unanimous decision win over Rafael Fiziev at UFC 313 in March. The 36-year-old has won three of his past four fights with two victories over Fiziev and a second-round KO over Poirier.

Pimblett is also keeping an eye on the title picture ahead of Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira fighting June 28 for the vacant lightweight belt at UFC 317 in Las Vegas. He acknowledged it would be more beneficial for him to have Topuria walk away as the new champion.

"I think it's better for me if Ilia wins because I might not even have to fight again. I'll more than likely be his first defense if he mentions me after it," Pimblett said.