Paddy Pimblett ensured his inner circle had the best seats in the house.
The charismatic Scouser prepares for his first title shot on MMA’s grandest stage, headlining UFC 324 on Saturday in Las Vegas. Pimblett will face Justin Gaethje with the interim lightweight title at stake after champion Ilia Topuria stepped away for personal reasons.
The former Cage Warriors champion aims to kickstart his rise to greatness by securing the interim belt. Pimblett wants many of his closest supporters to witness the moment live.
Pimblett spends six figures to fill arena with supporters
After making championship weight at Friday’s weigh-ins, where Cameron Smotherman fainted on stage, Pimblett appeared on the UFC Weigh-In Show. He revealed plans to bring plenty of Scousers to T-Mobile Arena.
Pimblett purchased 250 tickets for friends and family, spending between $140,000 and $150,000 to ensure a packed section cheering for him. “It was more than $100,000, lad. It was like $140,000, $150,000,” he said. He added that many other Scousers bought tickets independently, promising a large local fan presence.
Pimblett eyes legacy above Khabib and Makhachev
The legendary Khabib Nurmagomedov remains a standard of perfection with his 29-0 career, while Islam Makhachev, his protege, has emerged as a top contender in recent years.
Pimblett, however, believes he could eventually surpass them both. Speaking to Bloody Elbow via Casino Guru ahead of UFC 324, he said he sees a path to being the greatest in the lightweight division. “Of course,” he said when asked about overtaking Nurmagomedov and Makhachev. “What are you in the sport for if you don’t think you can do that? It’s pointless being an MMA fighter if you don’t aim for that. I’m already towards the top of the tree anyway.”
He acknowledged the constant criticism but said it loses meaning once belts are around his waist. “A lot of people talk s— about me 24/7, but when you’ve got the belts, it’s wasted energy for them,” Pimblett concluded.
