Paddy Pimblett shows off two black eyes as UFC star parties after defeat

Paddy Pimblett was taken to hospital following his defeat to Justin Gaethje at UFC 324 before being released later, with his wife confirming the Liverpool fighter is recovering

Paddy Pimblett looked battered and bruised as he attended his after-party following his defeat by Justin Gaethje.

The Liverpool lightweight suffered a points loss to the American in a gruelling five-round bout at UFC 324 on Saturday night. After receiving treatment for his injuries in hospital, Pimblett was discharged. His wife reassured fans of his recovery via social media, writing: “Us forever. For everyone asking he is absolutely fine and will be back.”

And Pimblett was seen checking out his party at Zouk nightclub at Resorts World in Las Vegas. The venue said on social media: “Welcome home, Paddy Pimblett”. As the Liverpudlian entered the club, he was met by girls holding up signs saying “We love Paddy Pimblett”.

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Despite losing the first two rounds of his interim lightweight title fight, Pimblett rallied in the third round, hinting at a potential comeback. However, Gaethje increased the pressure, winning the fourth round and narrowly taking the final one, setting himself up for a shot at full champion Ilia Topuria.

After the bout, Pimblett said: “”Can I say a few things, though? Just a few things I wanted to say, it would’ve been better if I won like, but, my friend’s mother, Liam Gittins, like my little brother in the gym, Julie Gittins, his mum passed away a couple of months ago, so I want to dedicate that to him.

“Obviously, I’m a Liverpool fan, and I know there’ll be loads of Liverpool fans here, there’s a Liverpool legend what passed away in the past few months, Diogo Jota, and his brother Andre, so I’d like to dedicate that performance to them, even though I didn’t win.

“I wanted to be walking away with that belt and I know how tough I am anyway. I don’t need to prove it to anyone. I wanted to leave with that belt,” he said immediately after the fight. “But there’s no man I’d rather lose to than ‘The Highlight’, someone I grew up watching. It shows why he’s a legend, right there. I thought 48-47 was a fair scorecard.

“I’m not going to lie, he hit me with a body shot in that first round, hit me right in the solar plexus, and it got me. I thought I was winning the round up until that point. I’m 31, you haven’t seen the last of me.”