Justin Gaethje
Paddy Pimblett
Conversation History
“I'm going to win, I'm going to spoil. I know that the fans probably want Paddy and Ilia like they wanted Tony and Khabib, and I'm going to f*** it up”
– via an interview with Carlos Contreras Legaspi vowing to derail the UFC's potential plans for a massive European showdown.
“I've never had a war in all my years of fighting, so I'm looking forward to one... People are laughing at me when I say I'm gonna stand with him, but I am. People think I'm just gonna shoot in the first 10 seconds, I'm not. I'm gonna stand with him, and I'm gonna put it on him... He's more of a boxer with leg kicks, and I'm an MMA striker.via Sky Sports, outlining his bold strategy for his interim lightweight title fight against Justin Gaethje.”
“Since the Charles Oliveira fight, I've really, really trained a lot of jiu jitsu.... maybe I'll submit him. That's going to be million to one odds”
– via Submission Radio, revealing that he has intensified his jiu jitsu training since his fight with Charles Oliveira and jokingly suggesting that he might submit Paddy Pimblett in their interim title fight, noting that the odds of that happening are "million to one."
“Everyone’s gonna be shocked because i think i’m gonna knock him out. People won’t expect that. People just think i’m going to grapple and take him down, but i’m not. I’m going to come out and put it on him. I don’t see him getting past the third, just like chandler.”
– via Red Corner MMA, claiming that he will shock everyone by knocking out Justin Gaethje and stating that he has no intention of relying on grappling
“I wanna play spoiler just like I did in Khabib and Tony. I'm going to f**k this up for everybody, and there is going to be no Paddy and Ilia. I'm going to do the same thing I did for that fight, and then i'm going to fight Ilia on the White House card if he's ready to fight again”
– via the UFC 2026 seasonal press conference, stating his intention to "play spoiler" by beating Paddy Pimblett, thereby canceling the highly anticipated Pimblett vs. Topuria fight, and then challenging Ilia Topuria for the undisputed title.
“What a ride it is. So thankful for the opportunity to start off this new partnership with the @ufc and @paramountplus. Perfect dance partner for another unforgettable night to prove once again I am one of the best and most exciting fighters of this era. I will be ready to go #ufc324”
– via Instagram, reacting to the announcement of his interim title fight against Paddy Pimblett at UFC 324.
“(Justin) is being a proper b*tch, saying the UFC owe him, and he deserves it and all that. No one's owed nothing. You fight for it... I know he's a legend, and obviously he's done a lot for the company and all that, but you can't just demand a title shot”
– criticizing Justin Gaethje for claiming the UFC owes him.