Paddy Pimblett discussed retiring from MMA before emphatic win at UFC 329

Paddy Pimblett has revealed he toyed with the idea of retiring during his training camp for UFC 329.

‘The Baddy’ believed that if he couldn’t defeat Benoit Saint Denis in the co-main event of the Las Vegas show this past weekend, then he should quit for good.

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Instead, Pimblett emphatically submitted the Frenchman in just 52 seconds, returning to winning ways in the UFC after suffering his first promotional defeat to Justin Gaethje in January.

The Liverpool star also staked his claim once again to a UFC lightweight title shot on the card headlined by Conor McGregor‘s shock injury on his return, and a rematch with Gaethje may be on the horizon.

Pimblett explains difficult UFC 329 prep

“It took a lot [to get back],” an honest Pimblett told About Last Fight just hours after his victory at UFC 329, speaking about the difficult period he faced after the Gaethje loss.

“This fight camp wasn’t easy. Getting to this point wasn’t easy.

“About four or five weeks ago, I turned to [my coach] Paul and I was like, ‘Listen, if I don’t win this fight, what’s the point in fighting anymore? I might as well retire.’

“If I can’t beat BSD, then what’s the point in fighting? If I can’t beat BSD, then I’m never gonna be a world champion and that’s what I do this for.

“I do this to be the best in the world, so if I can’t beat him [what’s the point?].”

Pimblett said his mindset quickly changed when former foe Gaethje defeated Ilia Topuria at UFC White House to become the new lightweight champion.

Gaethje forced Topuria to quit after four rounds of their main event clash, which aged Pimblett’s defeat to the American like fine wine, given Pimblett lasted all five rounds.

‘The Baddy’ admits Gaethje’s win gave him a new lease of motivation in this chapter of his career and he is now ready to ‘kill’ whoever stands in front of him next.

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Pimblett out for the kill

“It was one of the biggest kicks up the a** I’ve ever had in my life,” PImblett added.

“It set a fire underneath me. The last couple of weeks of this training camp have been unbelievable and I’m ready to kill anyone.

“Put anyone in front of me and I’ll kill them. I literally could’ve killed Benoit Saint Denis then.

“I had to say to [referee] Marc [Goddard], ‘Lad, he’s out. He’s unconscious.’ I felt he was flat. He wasn’t responsive.

“I think as soon as he rolled and tried to fight it, that took his last gasps out of him and that was it. That’s just how tight my squeeze is.”

Pimblett said his best trait is his ‘self-belief and confidence’ and he truly believes he’s ‘the best fighter on the planet’ right now.

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Only time will tell what the UFC has in store for the Liverpudlian next, but there’s no doubt his next fight will be huge.

A rematch with Gaethje may come, but the UFC may not want to miss out on Pimblett fighting longtime, bitter rival Topuria if the Spaniard recovers quickly from the nasty facial injuries he sustained at the White House.

Fellow top-ranked lightweights Arman Tsarukyan and Charles Oliveira, who is also the BMF champion, could also be suitable opponents for Pimblett next.

He will only be looking up the UFC lightweight rankings list in his bid to get a shot at undisputed gold in Dana White‘s promotion.