Earlier this year, ahead of his lightweight clash with Michael Chandler at UFC 314, Paddy Pimblett made it clear that his journey wouldn’t end there. “Once I finish Michael Chandler, I’m only gonna need one more fight—like Arman, Charles, or Gaethje. Beat a top 5 and I’ll be able to demand a title shot in 2026,” ‘The Baddy’ confidently declared.

True to his word, the Liverpudlian lived up to his reputation by delivering a brutal knockout over ‘Iron’ in the UFC 314 co-main event, marking his second knockout victory in the promotion. Now sitting at #8 in the lightweight rankings, he shows no signs of slowing down.

With Dustin Poirier scheduled to face Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira set to take on Ilia Topuria, Justin Gaethje remains the top contender in his path. ‘The Baddy’ has firmly set his sights on  Gaethje, ranked #3, knowing a win there would put him one step closer to a title shot. Speaking on ‘UFC on TNT Sports,’ Pimblett shared his ambitions: “If I beat Gaethje I’m next in line. He could be [next], it’s just if he says yea or not… Abu Dhabi, October. That’s when I want to fight.”

Like Paddy Pimblett, Justin Gaethje bounced back with an impressive victory over short-notice replacement Rafael Fiziev at UFC 313, following a shocking knockout loss to Max Holloway at the historic UFC 300. Though he has yet to claim the undisputed UFC title, Gaethje holds both the interim lightweight belt and the prestigious BMF belt.

Now, nearing the twilight of his career, ‘The Highlight’ is focused on securing one last shot at the championship. But standing in his way is the younger, hungrier ‘The Baddy’—who not only has his sights set on Gaethje but also on Gaethje’s fiercest rivals within the lightweight division. Let’s dive into who that contender is.

Other than Justin Gaethje, who is next on Paddy Pimblett’s target?

Ilia Topuria has made a strong impression this year, competing in both the 145 and 155-pound divisions before officially announcing his move up from featherweight. His ambition is clear: to emulate his idol, Conor McGregor, by becoming a two-division champion. This week, Dana White revealed that ‘El Matador’ will face Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 in June for the vacant 155lbs title. Islam Makhachev, who held the belt for over 900 days, has moved up to 170 pounds, leaving the lightweight championship open.

With the title at stake, Ilia Topuria enters the fight as the favorite among both oddsmakers and fans. Should the Spanish native claim the belt, Paddy Pimblett will be next in line for a title shot, setting up a much-anticipated clash between the two longtime rivals, who have traded barbs as “fat” vs. “midget.” Speaking to ESPN after his fight with Justin Gaethje, ‘The Baddy’ expressed his eagerness:

“I’ll be in the arena when Ilia fights Charles. If Ilia wins, I can see him mentioning me so you never know I could just be like Charles and get a win off fighting Michael Chandler. I think it’s better for me if Ilia wins because I might not even have to fight again, I’ll more than likely be his first defense if he mentions me after it. He said himself he wants to fight me just like I want to fight him.”

What do you think about Paddy Pimblett’s goals? Do you believe he can become a champion someday, or will he be like Dustin Poirier—an incredible fighter who never won a title? Share your thoughts below.