Paddy Pimblett hopes Justin Gaethje doesn’t retire if he beats him at UFC 324

UFC star Paddy Pimblett doesn’t want to see Justin Gaethje retire, even if he defeats him in the main event of UFC 324.

On Saturday night, there’s a chance we could see Justin Gaethje compete in mixed martial arts for the final time. He and his team have suggested that could be the case if he doesn’t get his hand raised, or if he suffers another knockout loss. Either way, he’s not going in there to just make up the numbers – he wants to make one final run at a world championship.

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Standing in his way, of course, is Paddy Pimblett. ‘The Baddy’ has certainly rubbed a lot of people the wrong way since entering the Ultimate Fighting Championship, but this weekend, he could shut them all up by becoming the new UFC interim lightweight champion.

From there, Pimblett could kick on and face Ilia Topuria for the undisputed title, and there’s a chance Gaethje could retire. Paddy, though, wouldn’t want that for ‘The Highlight’.

Pimblett’s view on possibly retiring Gaethje

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry that I’m going to be the one to retire you,” Pimblett told TMZ. “If someone would have said that five years ago, that Paddy Pimblett’s going to retire Justin Gaethje, they would have scoffed at you. But that’s what’s going to happen.”

“I hope he doesn’t retire. I love watching Justin Gaethje fight. Justin Gaethje’s one of my favorite fighters to watch,” Pimblett said. “I’d still love to see him punch Dan Hooker’s head in. I think that would be hilarious. Hopefully that fight ends up happening and he doesn’t retire.”

Quotes via MMA Junkie

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