Justin Gaethje Not Interested in Paddy Pimblett Rematch

UFC champion Justin Gaethje is still weighing his options for his next fight, but don't expect him to immediately sign on for a rematch against Paddy Pimblett.

Before his stunning performance dethroning Ilia Topuria at the UFC White House event, Gaethje had to contend with Pimblett in an interim title bout back in January. Despite not being favored, Gaethje delivered another impressive showing, outstriking Pimblett on the feet and securing a unanimous decision victory.

However, this past weekend at UFC 329, Pimblett stole the show with a lightning-fast submission win over Benoit Saint-Denis, putting him right back in title contention. But given he defeated Pimblett just six months ago, Gaethje doesn't seem particularly keen on facing him again so soon.

Nevertheless, Gaethje respects the kind words Pimblett had for him during fight week, especially the inspiration he drew from watching Gaethje's victory over Topuria in June. Pimblett admitted he struggled immediately after his loss to Gaethje, but witnessing that performance against Topuria truly shifted his perspective. Despite the defeat, the Englishman managed to go all five rounds with Gaethje in a bout that's a strong contender for "Fight of the Year."

Gaethje appreciates the fact that his success against Topuria resonated so deeply with athletes across various sports.

“It’s really cool that all athletes respect our sport because it’s so humbling, so primal. One-on-one. It’s great,” he added.

As for his own career, Gaethje previously stated he expects to fight again, but a return to action before 2027 is unlikely.