PADDY PIMBLETT has given a timeline for his UFC return following his bruising loss to Justin Gaethje.
The Baddy’s bid to become the UK’s fourth titleholder in MMA‘s top promotion proved to be an ill-fated one.
Pimblett, 31, suffered a crushing unanimous decision defeat in the main event of UFC 324 last month.
The bloody loss, in which he was DROPPED TWICE, saw the Liverpudlian miss out on the interim lightweight title and resulted in a trip to the hospital.
The bruising nature of the loss led many fight fans to predict a lengthy layoff for the fan favourite.
But Pimblett insists he won’t be out of the cage for long.
eye caramba
Paddy Pimblett shows off horror facial injuries after UFC 324 defeat
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In a video on his YouTube channel, he said: “People are thinking I’m going to take the rest of the year off.
“But I’m not, I’ll be fighting this summer.”
Pimblett was left with two massive shiners in the aftermath of the Sin City showdown, in which he was TWICE poked in the eye.
And the former Cage Warriors featherweight champion believes Gaethje’s finger and thumbnail has left him with a scratched cornea.
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He said: “The one thing that has made me laugh, though, I did say before the fight, ‘I’m gonna make his face look different.’
“And for a couple of days, he made my face look different.
“As you can see now, it’s a week later. There’s nothing wrong with me.
“The only thing what’s up with me is like, [I’ve] probably got a scratched cornea or something like that.”
Pimblett hopes to one day run it back with Gaethje, who is now expected to unify the 155lbs belts against Ilia Topuria later this year.
I’ll be fighting this summer.”
Paddy Pimblett
He said: “Like I said in my post after it, congrats to Justin Gaethje.
“I did say before the fight, I want the best version of Justin Gaethje, and that Justin Gaethje turned up.
“So, hats off to him. I hope he wins the undisputed title off Ilia.
“And hopefully we can run it back, even though I don’t think he’s got too many fights left.
“Hopefully we can run it back in the future because, there’s a couple of things in that fight that have p***ed me off.”