Paddy Pimblett has laid out some unusual terms for his own hypothetical reign at lightweight. According to Bloody Elbow, the Liverpool fighter says that if he ever holds the belt, there is one opponent he simply will not defend it against, choosing instead to vacate the title rather than take the fight. Bloody Elbow also reports that Pimblett considers two other feuds personal business that he wants resolved before he ever gets his hands on the gold. The timing is notable given where Pimblett actually sits. Gaethje, for his part, rates higher at 1670 over the same six fight sample and won the UFC lightweight title from Ilia Topuria at UFC Freedom 250 on June fourteen of 2026, stopping Ilia Topuria by TKO (corner stoppage) in the fourth round. That gap between the two men's numbers makes any eventual Pimblett title shot a legitimate test rather than a courtesy booking, but Pimblett's comments suggest he wants his own house in order first. Vacating a belt before even winning it is a strange hill to plant a flag on, but it tells you how seriously he takes whatever is driving those two other rivalries. The lightweight picture is already a hot topic among fans for a different reason.