“I Didn’t Even Cry” – Paddy Pimblett Reveals How His UFC 324 Loss to Justin Gaethje Was Different

Paddy Pimblett, the British mixed martial artist, recently shared his perspective on his first UFC defeat at UFC 324 in January 2026. The fight took place in the main event of the promotion's first Paramount+ card, where he lost to Justin Gaethje in a highly controversial bout. The controversy surrounding the loss stemmed from multiple eye pokes and a low blow against Pimblett, which the referee failed to penalize.

Despite this, the judges scored the bout in Gaethje's favor, awarding him a 49-46 decision. Pimblett revealed in a recent interview that his loss to Gaethje affected him much less than his previous defeats, which he described as having a severe impact on his mental health. He stated, "Every other fight I've lost, I sat in my room and cried my eyes out for days.

This one, I didn't even cry." Pimblett acknowledged that this fight was crucial for his growth as a fighter and that he had already taken the necessary steps forward. He expressed that the defeat was simply a part of his journey, and he had moved on from it by Sunday morning. Pimblett's next fight is not yet scheduled, but he revealed that he hopes to return to the Octagon during the first quarter of 2027.