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Paddy Pimblett’s rise in the UFC has been one of the promotion’s most talked-about stories in recent years, but a respected voice within the MMA community believes the Liverpool star may have already hit his ceiling.
Following Pimblett’s first UFC defeat earlier this year, longtime analyst Din Thomas has cast serious doubt over whether “The Baddy” can ever reach championship gold.
Paddy Pimblett’s biggest test ends in setback
In January, Pimblett stepped into the Octagon for the biggest fight of his career, challenging Justin Gaethje for the interim lightweight title. It marked a significant leap in competition for the fan favorite, who had not previously faced elite-level opposition inside the UFC.
Over five rounds, Gaethje’s experience and polish proved decisive. Pimblett was dominated for long stretches of the contest, losing four of the five rounds and suffering his first defeat in the promotion. More concerning for critics was the lack of visible in-fight adjustments from the 29-year-old as the bout slipped away.
What Din Thomas saw — and didn’t see
While the loss raised questions among fans, Din Thomas was not surprised by the outcome. Speaking to MMAJunkie, the veteran analyst acknowledged some positives but remained unconvinced about Paddy Pimblett’s long-term title prospects.
“I was impressed with Paddy’s durability and his conditioning,” Thomas said. “I don’t know why people were so shocked at Paddy’s game plan. How else did he ever fight before?”
Thomas pointed out that Pimblett has never been known as a dominant striker, describing his style as one built more on survival than technical superiority.
“It’s not like Paddy Pimblett has always fought with this crazy style where he’s stunting you on the feet,” Thomas added. “He’s a survivalist… He’s never been the best boxer.”
A crowded lightweight mountain to climb
Despite Pimblett’s toughness and crowd-pleasing nature, Thomas believes the top of the lightweight division presents an insurmountable challenge in its current form. When discussing elite contenders such as Benoit Saint-Denis, Max Holloway, Charles Oliveira, and Arman Tsarukyan, the analyst was blunt.
“I don’t see him beating any of them guys,” Thomas said. “I didn’t see him beating any of them guys before this fight.”
Discipline the deciding factor
Ultimately, Thomas believes Paddy Pimblett’s issues extend beyond skill alone. He emphasized discipline as the key obstacle standing between the Brit and UFC gold.
“Will he be a UFC champion? Highly doubt that – unless I see something different,” Thomas concluded. “But it’s a discipline issue. He’s got to go back to the drawing board and figure those things out.”
While Pimblett remains one of the UFC’s most marketable fighters, his championship ambitions now face tougher scrutiny than ever.
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