Is Paddy Pimblett about to pull off the upset of the year and KO Justin Gaethje? 'The Baddy' certainly thinks so – and he's revealing his 'secret weapon' that he believes will make it happen! But here's where it gets controversial... Pimblett is openly questioning Gaethje's training choices, suggesting they might be totally wrong for this fight. Buckle up, fight fans, because this is going to be a wild ride.
Paddy Pimblett is radiating confidence as UFC 324 approaches. The rising star has made significant sacrifices in his personal life, even putting birthday celebrations on hold, to ensure he's in peak condition for what he calls the biggest fight of his career.
On January 24th, Pimblett will step into the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas to face the always-dangerous Justin Gaethje in the main event. The stakes? The interim lightweight title. And this is the part most people miss: UFC President Dana White has already hinted that the winner will likely face Ilia Topuria once the reigning champion is ready to defend his belt. This means that the first major UFC event of 2026 could have huge implications for the entire lightweight division for the rest of the year. The winner not only gets a shiny belt, but also a guaranteed shot at undisputed glory.
'The Baddy' believes that a specific, crucial element of his training camp will allow him to make a definitive statement against Gaethje. He's not just aiming for a win, he's aiming for a knockout.
But what exactly is this 'secret weapon'?
Pimblett believes his teammate, Luke Riley, is a superior striker to Justin Gaethje. That's right, he's claiming his training partner is better than his world-class opponent. This is a bold claim, and it's already sparking debate amongst fans.
Pimblett recently told The MMA Guru that he has a 'sneaky suspicion' he'll knock Gaethje out. This confidence stems, in part, from the sparring rounds he's had with Riley during his fight camp. And he is using those sparring rounds to prepare himself for Gaethje's dynamic striking.
Pimblett went wild celebrating Riley's impressive UFC debut, where Riley secured a stunning knockout victory. This win seems to have further solidified Pimblett's belief in his teammate's abilities. "I've been doing a lot of rounds with Luke Riley for this camp, and Luke's got much better technical striking than Justin Gaethje, and I'm having a lot of success sparring with Luke," Pimblett explained.
When pressed about his seemingly outrageous claim, Pimblett doubled down. He argues that Riley's extensive experience in Muay Thai gives him an edge over Gaethje in pure striking technique. “Luke Riley’s been fighting Muay Thai in Thailand since he was eight years old,” Pimblett detailed. “When Justin Gaethje was wrestling, Luke was fighting Thai and then doing amateur boxing. Luke’s striking is a class above, and people are gonna see it over the next couple of years. He’s the striking version of me.”
Now, this is where it gets interesting... Pimblett questions Justin Gaethje's choice of sparring partners. He suggests they are not well-suited to prepare him for Pimblett's unique style.
Pimblett went on to argue that people often underestimate his training partners simply because they haven't reached the UFC level yet. He believes they possess skills that are just as, if not more, valuable than those of established UFC fighters.
In contrast, Justin Gaethje has been seen training with high-profile fighters like Kamaru Usman, who famously submitted Gaethje in a training session, and rising lightweight contender Fares Ziam, who is taller than Pimblett and utilizes his reach effectively. But Pimblett isn't impressed.
Pimblett believes that neither Usman nor Ziam can effectively replicate his fighting style. "It makes me laugh, it’s the second person now that’s got Kamaru Usman in to be a sparring partner for me when Kamaru Usman is nothing like me,” he stated. “Don’t get me wrong, he’s one of the best welterweights of all time, but he’s nothing like me.”
So, who are you betting on at UFC 324? Will Pimblett's 'secret weapon' and perceived advantage in striking lead to a stunning knockout victory? Or will Gaethje's experience and power prove too much for 'The Baddy' to handle? And do you agree with Pimblett's assessment of Gaethje's training camp? Is he right to question Gaethje's choice of sparring partners? Let your voice be heard in the comments below! We want to know your opinion!
