‘No excuses’ – Paddy Pimblett gives health update in first words since UFC 324 loss to Justin Gaethje

Paddy Pimblett has given a health update in his first public words since his bloody UFC 324 loss to Justin Gaethjie.

Paddy ‘The Baddy’ was beaten on points 48-47, 49-46, 49-46 by the American in a gruelling five-round bout on Saturday night.

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Gaethjie praised Pimblett following the fight, saying: “Scousers cannot get knocked out! This Scouser does not get knocked out. What a f****** gangster.

“I knew that I had to put him on his back foot. He’s very dangerous and has great timing. I had to work really hard, but champions move forward, and I just showed you why that is a must.

“I’ve just really got to trust my coach, ‘move him backwards and put your head on his chest’. I landed some MEAN ground and pound, that s*** was nasty!”

Pimblett lost the opening two rounds interim lightweight title fight, but battled back in the third to spark hopes of a comeback.

Gaethjie, though, won the fourth round to ultimately set up a shot at full champion Ilia Topuria.

The Liverpool-born star was taken straight to hospital after his post-fight interview to have his injuries looked at.

Pimblett’s wife, Laura, took to social media after the fight to assure fans that the fighter was recovering, posting: “Us forever. For everyone asking he is absolutely fine and will be back.”

And now Pimblett has posted a message with his followers to reinforce his wife’s words.

Paddy Pimblett’s reassures fans

Sharing a thank you message with photos of the fight, Pimblett wrote: “It’s still in my destiny to win that gold!

“Hope everyone enjoyed my fight just as much as I did, want to thank everyone that came to support and everyone watching at home.”

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Additionally, Pimblett confirmed that he is ‘all good’ and has no injuries.

“I’m all good no injuries, went into the fight feeling amazing. I had a great camp and an easy weight cut. No excuses, the better man won on the night @justin_gaethje.

“Congratulations brother, it was an honour to share the cage with such a legend. Go get that undisputed title – your career deserves it.

“Hopefully we can run it back for the undisputed because I still know it’s in my destiny to win that gold! @ufc thank you for the opportunity yous all know I’ll be back for that belt in the near future.”

Defeat to Gaethje on Saturday was just Pimblett’s fourth career loss, and his third by decision.

However, as well as being magnanimous in defeat, Pimblett was in philosophical mood in the immediate aftermath.

He said in his post-fight interview: “Can I say a few things, though? Just a few things I wanted to say, it would’ve been better if I won like, but, my friend’s mother, Liam Gittins, like my little brother in the gym, Julie Gittins, his mum passed away a couple of months ago, so I want to dedicate that to him.

“Obviously, I’m a Liverpool fan, and I know there’ll be loads of Liverpool fans here, there’s a Liverpool legend what passed away in the past few months, Diogo Jota, and his brother Andre, so I’d like to dedicate that performance to them, even though I didn’t win.

“I wanted to be walking away with that belt and I know how tough I am anyway. I don’t need to prove it to anyone. I wanted to leave with that belt.

“But there’s no man I’d rather lose to than ‘The Highlight’, someone I grew up watching. It shows why he’s a legend, right there. I thought 48-47 was a fair scorecard.

“I’m not going to lie, he hit me with a body shot in that first round, hit me right in the solar plexus, and it got me. I thought I was winning the round up until that point. I’m 31, you haven’t seen the last of me.”