Paddy Pimblett admits 'ego' led to downfall against Justin Gaethje

At UFC 324, Justin Gaethje defeated Paddy Pimblett by unanimous decision to claim the interim lightweight crown, earning a June 14 unification versus Ilia Topuria in the UFC White House main event. In remarks on his YouTube channel, Paddy Pimblett said ego influenced his approach against Justin Gaethje at UFC 324 and that he sought a knockout to showcase striking. He said, "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," adding an emphasis on "fight IQ" and the game plan. Pimblett contrasted a recent "perfect camp" with earlier disrupted camps before Bobby Green and Michael Chandler, and said he aims to validate his title shot and pursue another soon.