'Sub of the year' - Paddy Pimblett vows to beat Ilia Topuria or Justin Gaethje after comeback victory over Benoit Saint-Denis at UFC 329

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Paddy Pimblett promised, "give me anyone and I will punch their head in" after stunning Benoit Saint-Denis into a 52-second submission at UFC 329. Paddy 'The Baddy' name-checked Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje in his post-fight interview, and crowned his comeback victory as "sub of the year".

'Not a real fighter' - Pimblett slams Topuria but targets 'inevitable' clash with former champion

Video credit: TNT Sports

Pimblett lost his first UFC title fight against Gaethje in January - his maiden loss in the championship - and dropped to ninth in the UFC lightweight rankings, but responded in style with his statement defeat of fifth-ranked Saint-Denis.

The Liverpool fighter dodged a high kick from Saint-Denis, then when the Frenchman went low he pounced with the guillotine.

Despite 'The God of War' rolling onto his back, Pimblett kept immense pressure on his neck until the referee declared a technical submission.

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"Sub of the year, b*******," Pimblett began. "I knew he was out. I had to say to [referee] Marc [Goddard], ‘He’s unconscious lad, he’s out’. And he had to check him, you know.

"Try and grab hold of my legs like that, I told everyone all week: He’s going to shoot in, try and grab hold, and I’m going to choke his a*** unconscious’. And my man was face down eating canvas."

Pimblett’s spectacular win was the final action of the night before the UFC 329 headline fight between Max Holloway and Conor McGregor, which ended in an early TKO win for Holloway due to a leg injury to the Irishman.

"I’m like a f****** spider lad. When I’ve got hold of you, you don’t f****** get out, simple as that,” Pimblett added.

"You know, I said I was going to do it, everyone’s counting me out, everyone’s saying I’m finished because I got beat by Gaethje.

"But what now? What now? Am I finished? Who wants it next? I’ll beat Ilia up, I’ll f****** rematch Justin, I’ll fight Conor or Max next, I don’t give a f***. Give me anyone and I’ll punch their f****** head in.

"Who f****** wants it? I’ll see you… at the afterparty, whoever wants it can f****** get it!"

Gaethje defeated Topuria by technical knockout at UFC Freedom 250 and neither man has their next fight booked, while Holloway and McGregor’s futures are uncertain following the conclusion of UFC 329.

Pimblett‘s record, meanwhile, improves to 24-4 overall and 8-1 in the UFC.

A year and eight days after the death of Liverpool striker Diogo Jota and his brother, Porto player Andre Silva, Scouser Pimblett led a rendition of Jota’s chant at T-Mobile Arena following the victory.

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