Paddy Pimblett Returns in 2025, Then Wins at UFC 314
After submitting King Green at UFC 304 in July 2024, Paddy Pimblett said he hoped to return before year-end or in early 2025, according to MMA Junkie’s report at the time. The forecast ran a little late: his next fight came against Michael Chandler at UFC 314 in April 2025, where he won by third-round TKO.
Chandler became the next opponent
The original report discussed a possible December 2024 appearance or an early-2025 return, with Renato Moicano among the names circulating at the time. Neither date nor matchup materialized. Pimblett instead met Chandler on April 12, 2025, and stopped him with strikes at 3:07 of Round 3. The win was Pimblett’s seventh straight UFC victory. UFC 314 results · Official scorecards
Interim title fight brought his first UFC loss
Pimblett then challenged Justin Gaethje for the interim lightweight title in the UFC 324 main event on January 24, 2026. Gaethje won by unanimous decision, handing Pimblett his first defeat inside the UFC. The official scorecards were 48–47, 49–46 and 49–46 for Gaethje. UFC 324 official scorecards · Reuters report
Pimblett rebounded against Saint Denis
In his latest appearance, at UFC 329 on July 11, 2026, Pimblett submitted Benoît Saint Denis with a D’Arce choke 52 seconds into the first round. The result followed his loss to Gaethje and gave him a quick return to the win column. UFC 329 official scorecards
The timeline in retrospect
Pimblett’s next appearance did arrive after the end-of-2024 window he had discussed, but not in early 2025. Chandler was next in April; a title opportunity and a first UFC loss followed in 2026, before the Saint Denis submission. The old prediction has now given way to a much fuller chapter in his lightweight career.
