When did Paddy Pimblett start UFC?

Patrick Pimblett, who also goes by ‘The Baddy,’ is an English lightweight MMA contender who competes in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Pimblett entered the professional scene in 2012 at the age of 17, achieving a 3–0 record before securing a contract with Cage Warriors the following year. He also won the featherweight championship in the same promotion after defeating Kevin Petshi via submission.

Pimblett holds a professional MMA record of 20 wins to 3 losses (20-3-0) and is currently an unranked fighter on the UFC roster. He has fought in the UFC four times and has won on all occasions (4-0-0).

Paddy Pimblett UFC Career

Pimblett made his first appearance in the UFC at UFC Fight Night 191 on September 4, 2021, facing Luigi Vendramini. He won in the first round by knockout, earning a Performance of the Night bonus for his performance. On March 19, he faced Rodrigo Vargas at UFC Fight Night 204, winning via first-round submission and earning his second consecutive Performance of the Night award.

On July 23, he defeated Jordan Leavitt at UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Aspinall with a second-round rear-naked choke, securing another Performance of the Night award. On December 10, Pimblett faced Jared Gordon at UFC 282, winning by unanimous decision amid controversy, as many believed Gordon should have won. Paddy Pimblett is now scheduled to fight UFC veteran Tony ‘El Cucuy’ Ferguson at UFC 296 on December 16, 2023.

Paddy Pimblett Controversies

Paddy Pimblett has recently faced controversy despite initial hype surrounding his personality and charisma. The issues began with his significant weight gain after a win against Jordan Leavitt, where he admitted to indulging in excessive amounts of food, raising concerns about eating disorders among UFC athletes and the impact of extreme weight cuts on their eating habits.

The controversy escalated after Pimblett's UFC 282 fight against Jared Gordon, where, despite multiple media scoring that Gordon had won, Pimblett was awarded the decision by judges. Pimblett, in post-fight interviews, downplayed the closeness of the fight and boasted about his skills, leading to criticism from fans, commentators, and analysts. Even UFC president Dana White criticized Pimblett for his drastic weight gain between fights.

In addition, there are accusations that the judges may have favored Pimblett to capitalize on the hype surrounding him, raising concerns about the integrity of judging in the UFC.