‘Fixing holes’ – Paddy Pimblett’s manager gives update on recovery as he addresses UFC comeback talks

Paddy Pimblett sustained ‘very little damage’ in his last fight and is currently on holiday, enjoying life ahead of a return.

That’s according to Pimblett‘s longtime manager Graham Boylan, who has provided a fresh update on the Liverpudlian’s recovery and revealed when fans can expect to see him back fighting.

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Last month, Pimblett tasted the first defeat of his UFC career, a unanimous decision against Justin Gaethje after five action-packed rounds.

The two lightweight stars headlined UFC 324 — Dana White‘s first show of the year — and Gaethje was crowned the interim champion at 155lbs following his win.

The American is now expected to fight current undisputed lightweight champion Ilia Topuria to unify the division, with reports suggesting that the clash may headline the UFC White House card.

As for Pimblett, he has been on a food-eating binge since his loss, having now almost fully recovered from two nasty eye pokes delivered by Gaethje in their main event bout.

Paddy Pimblett fully recovered, says manager

Earlier this month, ‘The Baddy’ said he’ll be fighting again as early as this summer, and Boylan has since revealed how that process will unfold.

“It’ll be a team conversation,” Cage Warriors president Boylan told talkSPORT.com.

Boylan has looked after Pimblett since his rise through the Irish-owned promotion and is currently preparing for one of his biggest shows in CW 200, which goes down in Dublin on Saturday.

The 51-year-old continued: “Right now, Paddy’s on holiday with his family, just enjoying life.

“[He suffered] very little damage from [the Gaethje] fight, a few stitches over the eyebrow, bit of swelling for four or five days, which is gone.

“Whatever happens next, it’ll be a conversation with the UFC and I, and then from there, it’ll be a conversation with Paddy and I and the team and his coaches.

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“So there’ll be a process involved, and we’ll figure out what the steps are once the first conversation starts and when we feel Paddy’s ready to go next.”

Asked when he would like Pimblett to return, Boylan responded: “It comes down to when he feels he’s ready. 

“Is it gonna be the summer? Will it be Q3? We don’t know, so we’ll take one step at a time.

“I’m renowned for saying this and people get pretty wound up when I say this sometimes because they hear it so much.

“Tomorrow’s problems are for tomorrow. Today’s problems are for today.

“So any problematic issues or any issues that we need to sort out, they’ll be dealt with as and when they arise.

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“There’d be no point in having a chat about them now because everything could be different in tomorrow’s conversation.”

Pimblett went seven fights unbeaten in the UFC before facing Gaethje for the interim lightweight title.

He dominated Michael Chandler at UFC 314 in April to earn the shot at gold, although some members of the MMA fraternity questioned his worthiness for a title fight.

Fans had suggested that No. 1 contender Arman Tsarukyan was more deserving of fighting for a belt, but Boylan is confident his man is exactly where he should be.

Boylan ‘confident’ Pimblett will do as he says

“Paddy wasn’t thrown in there,” Boylan concluded.

“Paddy was there because he was an unbeaten lightweight in the UFC, on a tear, taking decent names out.

“So Paddy was there because he deserved it. The fight, I believe, could have gone either way.

“There were opportunities in there, but the sport is what it is, and everything is open to people’s view of what they see when a fight happens.

“But Paddy’s young. He’s got nothing but more and more experience every time he fights.

“He’s got a crazy record for a young guy, and I’m confident that he does what he says he’s gonna do. He’s been doing it since I’ve known him, at 18 years of age.

“I’ve watched a kid grow up in Cage Warriors. I’ve watched him go from a little kid beating men to fighting for a world title.

“So I’m confident Paddy does what he says he does. Right now, he’s just relaxing.

“He’s enjoying life with his family and his two little girls, and back to the gym and drawing board and creating plans and fixing holes when he gets back.”

UFC Schedule

For all the upcoming fights and results this year, check out talkSPORT.com’s full UFC schedule.

White’s promotion heads to Texas next with Sean Strickland battling Anthony Hernandez in the main event of UFC Houston on Saturday.