Media Breaking: Paddy vs Gaethje for Interim LW Belt

[CatchtheseHands]

This can't be real wtf

 

[JustBleed69]

Great fight on its own, but neither should be fighting for a title. Arman vs Illia or bust.

 

[JoeRowe]

2026 and the best the UFC can muster for its new TV rights deal is 37 year-old Justin Gaethje who is 4-3 in his last 7 fights, getting his 22nd title shot.

This shit is lame af

 

[Thepaintbucket]

Strangely didn't see this coming but to be expected

 

[Trabaho]

what about Arman

 

[mkt]

Will this be the 3rd or 4th time Gaethje has a chance at some LW belt and loses? I've lost count.

 

[mkt]

But why take that level of disrespect? He’s rich. Financial freedom means you can control your own destiny

I have money saved up. I can tell my boss “that extra check doesn’t come in; I’m walking”

Granted. I’m not competing to win a world championship in countertop sales. He’s chasing a dream.. I get that. Still be nice to see a fighter stand up for themselves. Dana just signed a deal for 7 billion.

Eh, I'm tired of prima donnas who sit around and wait for "perfect" fights and payouts. I started watching the sport when it was a one-night tournament and the champ had to fight 3 times that night.

 

[cmw43]

I'm fine with it. Arman beating Dan Hooker coming off a long period of inactivity after barely beating an old Charles doesn't make him undeniable. His win over Beneil didn't age that well either.

Edit: Never mind, my brain read that as Arman vs Paddy for the interim. Yeah, there is no justifying Justin fighting Paddy over Arman.

Could it be Armans got next title shot and these guys are doing a fancy No1 contender fight?

 

[AMAZINGUFC]

A farce speculated by everyone that ended up being confirmed...

Here's the chance JG wanted;

if he can't even beat Paddy Pimblett,
it's not a case of retiring,
it's a case of hanging himself.

 

[Orochimaru 大蛇丸]

It’s amazing to me the UFC hasn’t realized making things so phony that even casuals know it kills the sport

 

[Deadwing88]

Don't really understand why people think Paddy will walk through him..

On the evidence of beating a washed Chandler and the corpse of Tony (who he couldn't finish), along with Bobby Green ?

 

[Portland8242]

Could it be Armans got next title shot and these guys are doing a fancy No1 contender fight?

No. This is them tying up the LW division for the rest of the year and locking Arman out of the picture.

Illia said he's not coming back until 2026 Q2 at minimum, which let's face it "minimum" means he's only fighting once during the year anyway. So winner of this absolute farce of an interim will get their ticket to sit on their ass and wait for Toupria.

 

[Bobble Head]

Will this be the 3rd or 4th time Gaethje has a chance at some LW belt and loses? I've lost count.

Wasn’t he throwing a tantrum or something according to Ali, threatening retirement if he didn’t get his 42nd shot? I certainly love entitlement being rewarded.

Cheering for Paddy because of that alone tbh.

 

[Mmmmmmma1234]

This is wrong on so many levels. First with all respect to Ilia but a divorce is not a justified we need an interim situation he should be stripped to sort out his personal stuff.
Second Arman should be involved i said as much as anyone he shouldn't be handed shit until he won another fight but he's accomplished that so he should be treated as the #1 guy again.

If news comes out Arman turned it down because it wasn't Top or undisputed it's a little less stupid but still not smart.

 

[TheFallofMan]

This fight would be fine if it was a no1 contender fight for the Topuria vs Arman winner... but having these two fight for the interim title and not the actual top contender is annoying.. At least give us Paddy vs Arman since they already have a beef. Gaethje does not deserve the fight at all.

 

[Mmmmmmma1234]

Arman beats both on the same night...

With Arman shit cardio there's no two lightweights he could beat on the same night.

 

[humdizzle]

Don't really understand why people think Paddy will walk through him..

On the evidence of beating a washed Chandler and the corpse of Tony (who he couldn't finish), along with Bobby Green ?

because paddy has pretty legit grappling and bjj.

gaethje knocked oliveira down and was too scared to attempt a follow up shot or GNP. Arman, Islam, Paul Felder, Chandler had no issue clinching or grappling with him

 

[Deadwing88]

because paddy has pretty legit grappling and bjj.

gaethje knocked oliveira down and was too scared to attempt a follow up shot or GNP. Arman, Islam, Paul Felder, Chandler had no issue clinching or grappling with him

He has functionally fought no one beyond the washed and non ranked.

Paddy may be competitive, but he doesn't bring anything hasn't seen at a much higher level.

 

[DaysOfThunder]

Gaethje will break Paddy's legs! He would do the same to Topuria.

 

[Takes Two To Tango]

This should be an interesting fight. I approve.