Paddy Pimblett is back in training camp as he targets a planned matchup with Benoit Saint-Denis at UFC 329 in July during International Fight Week.
The return comes after Pimblett dropped a decision to Justin Gaethje at UFC 324 in January, a bout where he attempted few takedowns despite being known as a submission specialist.
Reflecting on that loss, Pimblett admitted, "So to be honest, with the last fight, I think a little bit of me ego got in the way" and added, "I wanted to knock him out. I wanted to strike with him and show everyone I could strike with him. When you’re trying to take him down in the fifth round after he bludgeoned you at the end of the second, it’s quite hard. Back to fight IQ. Back to the game plan and not just swinging recklessly."
Pimblett is already feeling the grind of another buildup, saying, "Body’s feeling it, as it will be the first few weeks back," but he pointed to past imperfect preparations as a positive sign: "I had a perfect camp for the last fight, and that never went perfect in the cage. So I think I’m better off having a little bit of a mad disruptive fight camp, and I have my best fights. Bobby Green and Michael Chandler, both fight camps weren’t perfect, but in the end they were perfect when I got in the Octagon. So hopefully this is the same."
Pimblett and Saint-Denis are described as holding the No. 6 and No. 5 lightweight rankings respectively, and Pimblett’s focus is clear: "I gotta show everyone why I deserve to get that title shot. Show everyone that I’m gonna be getting another one in the near future."
