Paddy Pimblett sees two options for his next fight if the UFC does not immediately book him to Ilia Topuria.
Pimblett was a prominent talk point in the aftermath of the UFC 317-PAY-PER-View last Saturday, even though it did not compete in the T-Mobile Arena of Las Vegas.
After Ilia Topuria Charles Oliveira had eliminated to claim the empty lightweight title, 'The Baddy' entered the Octagon to cope with his old rival.
Although that perhaps put the stage for the first defense of the Spaniard, many have pushed back on the idea that Pimblett's dominant victory over Michael Chandler justifies a title shot.
If the UFC agrees with that sentiment, Pimblett sees two potential contenders that can be placed between him and the gold of Topuria.
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
Paddy Pimblett then contains Hooker on the list of potential next opponents
Before the events of UFC 317, Pimblett pointed to Justin Gaethje as his likely opponent in an eliminator. But the willingness of the American to face a colleague party was thrown into the air when his manager claimed that he would retire if he did not get the next title shot.
With that the scouser may have to look somewhere else – and there are not many options.
During a recent performance on the fresh US podcast by Eric Nicksick, Pimblett repeated that Gaethje will stay at the top of his list if he misses an immediate chance of depressing Topuria.
In addition to 'the highlight', Pimblett does not see much different from than Hooker.
“It would be more than likely Gaethje to be honest,” Pimblett said. “I don't think anyone gives it to see Arman Tsarukyan fight … Nobody gives off – about him.
“I think it would be Gaethje. Of course, (Dustin) Poirier's retirement. (Max) Holloway will finish – war with him, so he clearly doesn't fight for a few months.
“Then Hooker, maybe,” added Pimblett.
Hooker has been put aside by injuries since the breaking of title conflicts with a victory over Mateusz Gamrot in Australia last August. He was originally planned to be confronted with Gaethje this year before he suffered an injury setback.
Paddy Pimblett is insisting on UFC to book the first real resorting competition since Khabib Nurmagomedov vs Conor McGregor
In an ideal world for Pimblett, he would not even have to go through Gaethje or Hooker to compete with UFC Gold on the line for the first time.
'The Baddy' argued for his title shot in the aftermath of UFC 317 by insisting that his collision with Topuria would mark the only time that a real feud reached the Octagon since Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor's heated rivalry.
“I am always ready to do that (face off). We have history,” Pimblett said. “You don't even have to sell that fight, it sells itself. Two people who really don't like each other.
“You don't really see that. We have not seen that since Khabib and McGregor. Two people who actually hate each other because I hate him. I would not even want to finish him quickly. I would like to finish him with another minute in the fight after I have him 700 times elbow. I want to expel him.”
However, whether the UFC will influence Pimblett in favor is still to be seen.