‘The Baddy’ is no longer a top five contender.
Just over a week removed from his first failed attempt at becoming a champion on MMA’s biggest stage, Paddy Pimblett has now dropped out of the UFC lightweight division’s top five rankings.
He’s vowed to bounce back in his comments since that setback, and he will now be doing so from outside of the top five at 155 pounds.
Benoit Saint-Denis moves into top five, replaces Pimblett in UFC Rankings
The outcome on January 24 was a significant setback for Pimblett’s ambitions, as he had been aiming to claim the interim lightweight belt before facing champion Ilia Topuria once the Spaniard returned from his break.
Now Gaethje is the one in pursuit of Topuria, while Pimblett is left to consider his next move against one of the division’s other top contenders.
Several options emerged from UFC 325 in Sydney this past weekend, and one of them has already overtaken him in the rankings.
Benoit Saint-Denis made a strong statement by stopping Dan Hooker with relentless ground-and-pound in the co-main event at Qudos Bank Arena. That win marked his fourth consecutive victory and earned him a spot inside the lightweight top five.
The ‘God of War’ now ranks just behind Gaethje, Arman Tsarukyan, Charles Oliveira and Max Holloway. His rise has bumped Pimblett down to No. 6, just ahead of Mateusz Gamrot and two spots above Hooker.
Benoit Saint-Denis moves ahead of Pimblett in the rankings
Pimblett had been hoping to win the interim title and set up a meeting with Ilia Topuria when the Spaniard returns. But after losing, those plans have shifted.
It’s now Gaethje who has his eyes on Topuria, while Pimblett is likely to look elsewhere for his next opponent.
Pimblett had been hoping to win the interim title and set up a meeting with Ilia Topuria when the Spaniard returns. But after losing, those plans have shifted.
Gaethje is now looking at a fight with Topuria, leaving Pimblett searching for a new opponent.
Paddy Pimblett open to Benoit Saint-Denis matchup
There’s every chance that he won’t need more than one win outside of that bracket to return quickly given how closely packed it is near the top of the division.
Benoit Saint-Denis only made his entry there by picking up back-to-back wins over Gamrot and Hooker inside three rounds – and in fact – they are both ranked behind him right now in seventh and eighth respectively.
If so, he’s already taken notice of what ‘God of War’ did Down Under and appears open to accepting an offer from Dana White should one come across his desk.
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