Paddy Pimblett on fighting, weight cuts and the lightweight division

Joe Rogan jokes that Paddy Pimblett’s Liverpool accent might need subtitles. Pimblett remembers an embedded video that subtitled him while leaving a fighter speaking English as a second language without them; he says he loves his accent.

Pimblett says American restaurant refills of Coca-Cola make it easy for him to gain weight between fights. He recalls reaching around 210 pounds in the past and says he can lose some of the initial gain quickly when he resumes dieting.

He says his weight tends to rise most during US visits, while he thinks some early loss after returning to a diet reflects salt and sugar. They compare American and British snacks and their own tastes in chocolate.

They compare British and American snacks. Pimblett prefers British chocolate and says he likes dipping chocolate in Nutella, while Rogan prefers dark chocolate with peanut butter.

He is in the US briefly to film an advertisement before returning home and taking his family to Dubai. He recalls being delayed in the Maldives when travel through the region was disrupted and hopes for an uneventful trip.

Pimblett says a planned earlier trip to Dubai was cancelled amid disruption in the region. The extra days his family spent in the Maldives were not the worst place to be delayed, Rogan jokes.

Pimblett wants to fight at Madison Square Garden before retiring, although he says taxes are a consideration. His first choice would be Anfield, Liverpool’s football stadium; he and Rogan discuss the outdoor venue and the problem of rain.

Pimblett says fighting in the United States can mean tax obligations in both countries. Rogan is surprised by the burden he describes, while Pimblett says it is something he has to accommodate.

Pimblett says his preference for a fight in Abu Dhabi is partly financial, while Rogan describes Madison Square Garden as a venue whose history gives it a special atmosphere.

Pimblett says his ideal venue would be Liverpool’s Anfield. They imagine a summer event and a cover over the cage; Pimblett thinks local fans would attend even in the rain.

Asked about his next opponent, Pimblett says the lightweight division is waiting on Justin Gaethje’s plans. They discuss possible matchups involving Alexander Volkanovski, Arman Tsarukyan, Charles Oliveira and Ilia Topuria; Rogan and Pimblett agree a Topuria fight would attract interest even without a title.

They speculate about the lightweight title picture and the consequences if Gaethje and Volkanovski eventually retire. Pimblett says Oliveira could also be in contention depending on his next fight.

Rogan asks about the choke Pimblett used against Benoît Saint Denis. Pimblett calls it the “Paddy tie,” distinguishing it from the “Paddy lock” he had named earlier, and describes rolling into the position as Saint Denis tried to escape.

Rogan describes the pressure created by Pimblett’s leg position in the finish. Pimblett says the submission he used on Jordan Leavitt already had the name “Paddy lock,” so he chose another name for this one.

Pimblett says he studied Saint Denis’s habit of following a kick or punch with a takedown attempt and expected him to shoot early. He had reviewed a related Peruvian necktie with his coach but says he improvised the exact finish in the fight. Much of his camp instead focused on wrestling and defending against the cage.

Pimblett says he and his coach had briefly practiced a related position several weeks before the fight. His coach joked afterward that they might have spent the entire camp working on guillotines, though they had prepared for many scenarios.

Pimblett says he expected Saint Denis to go unconscious rather than tap and felt sympathy seeing his reaction afterward. They praise the depth of the lightweight division and discuss how the sport attracts athletes from different disciplines.

They praise Saint Denis’s toughness and discuss his next matchup. Both see the lightweight class as particularly competitive, with athletes combining striking, wrestling and grappling.

Pimblett thinks the lightweight class attracts many competitors because its weight is close to that of many adults. Rogan says wrestlers and kickboxers around that size bring a wide range of high-level skills into MMA.

Pimblett started training in 2010 at the same gym he still uses. His first discipline was MMA, though he took to jiu-jitsu quickly; he remembers attempting a guillotine in his first children’s class after seeing the move on television.

He says he recognized moves from television before he knew their names. Once he began training, he quickly decided that fighting was what he wanted to do.

Pimblett thinks elite MMA fighters now have to be well rounded, unlike earlier eras when a specialist could reach the top. Rogan adds that switching stance helps a fighter deal with the modern calf kick, which can damage the lead leg.

Rogan thinks the spread of strong gyms has made high-level fighters more geographically diverse. Pimblett says earlier champions seemed concentrated in a few countries, whereas contenders now come from many regions.

Rogan suggests that the ability to fight from either stance is becoming more useful. Pimblett says he already likes switching, and Rogan points to the challenge of protecting a lead leg against a skilled calf kicker.

They discuss how calf kicks are set up and how they have spread through combat sports. Pimblett says he used his reach and kicks against Bobby Green to keep Green’s fast boxing at a distance; he says a leg kick also affected Green’s movement before their grappling exchange.

They discuss how low calf kicks can be delivered from close range as well as at distance. Rogan notes that the technique has become more common in MMA and other striking sports.

Against Green, Pimblett says his plan was to exploit his reach with kicks and prevent the boxer from getting close enough to use his combinations. He believes the early damage limited Green’s movement.

Pimblett says his early grappling tournaments came before his first amateur fight. He recalls the rules at the time allowing standing knees and ground strikes, with restrictions including elbows and twisting leg locks.

Pimblett recalls winning grappling tournaments as a teenager and taking his first fight at 16 on short notice. He says having his hand raised confirmed that fighting was what he wanted to do.

He describes the young fighters at his gym and says Cage Warriors gives European prospects demanding competition rather than padded records. He says the experience prepared him for the UFC, and expects several of his teammates to reach that level.

Pimblett says young people at his gym train regularly and some teenagers have already competed internationally. He and Rogan view Cage Warriors as a place to see European talent before it reaches the UFC.

Pimblett says that unlike some promotions where undefeated records can conceal weak opposition, Cage Warriors routinely matches prospects against difficult opponents. He points to his own losses there and teammates he thinks will reach the UFC.

He names teammates he expects to progress and says several Cage Warriors alumni have already established themselves in the UFC. Rogan says the experience of facing strong opposition helps reduce the shock of moving up.

Pimblett describes a Spanish training partner he believes can develop into a UFC prospect. That discussion leads Rogan to ask about Pimblett’s dispute with Topuria.

Asked how his dispute with Topuria started, Pimblett traces it to a social-media exchange with a Georgian fighter. He says he did not know the history of war between Russia and Georgia when he used language that others interpreted as referring to it. He later corrects his initial recollection of which fighter had been involved.

Pimblett says his wording was Liverpool slang rather than an intentional reference to warfare. He describes receiving angry messages and says he later spoke with another Georgian fighter about the misunderstanding.

He corrects his own initial identification of the fighter in the exchange, saying it was Guram rather than Giga. He says Giga later heard his explanation and understood that he had not known the history.

Pimblett believes Topuria used the disagreement to raise his profile; Rogan questions that interpretation. Pimblett recounts a hotel confrontation in which he says he threw a hand-sanitizer bottle after Topuria swung at him. He says he respects Topuria’s skills as a fighter while maintaining their personal disagreement.

Pimblett describes the hotel encounter as taking place when he was warming up eggs. He says he was alone, and thinks the absence of teammates helped prevent a larger altercation.

Pimblett says Topuria appeared with a large group and moved toward him, prompting him to set down his food and throw the bottle. He says the confrontation ended without anyone being hit.

Rogan asks whether Topuria might simply have accepted a fight for ordinary professional reasons. Pimblett maintains that their dispute was part of the motivation; Rogan says they can disagree about that.

Pimblett compliments Topuria’s fighting ability but says the personal friction remains. Rogan notes that a person may have ties to more than one country as the two debate Topuria’s national affiliations.

Both think a fight between them would be compelling. Pimblett says he likes being counted out and considers his own style unusual enough to be difficult to prepare for.

Rogan observes a change from Pimblett’s cheerful entrance to his focus in the cage. Pimblett says the crowd’s singing is one of his favorite feelings, but once his opponent enters he concentrates on that opponent and the referee. He changed from rap to dance music after an early loss and eventually settled on his current entrance music.

Pimblett says the opponent and the referee are the people whose actions matter once the fight starts. The referee determines when the contest ends, so his attention stays on what is happening in the cage.

His walkout music changed after his first professional loss: he moved from rap to dance music that reflected what he listened to socially. He later combined two songs and says he does not plan to change it again.

Rogan recounts a story about an old phone number supposedly leading to unusual walkout music being chosen for Rory MacDonald. Pimblett remembers an amateur opponent’s show changing his own song; his coach told him to ignore it and win.

Rogan tells a story in which a fan who inherited a fighter’s phone number allegedly chose his walkout songs. They look at a discussion of the story and wonder how many fights the error lasted.

Pimblett recalls his own music being changed on an opponent’s local show. His coach interpreted it as a distraction and told him to concentrate on winning, which he says he did.

They discuss how rivalry can motivate fighters while adding anxiety. Pimblett says he would enjoy coaching a season of The Ultimate Fighter opposite Topuria and prefers seasons where the coaches have a real rivalry and will fight each other.

They remember older seasons of The Ultimate Fighter and discuss the appeal of coaches who have a genuine rivalry. Rogan criticizes the long period Chandler spent waiting for a McGregor bout that did not happen; Pimblett understands the incentive of a large payday.

Pimblett says his interest in The Ultimate Fighter began with early seasons featuring strong personalities and eventual fights between coaches. He thinks that connection makes the show more compelling.

Rogan and Pimblett recall Chandler’s proposed fight with McGregor. Rogan thinks a long layoff can be costly for an older fighter, while Pimblett notes the size of the potential payday.

Pimblett says Michael Chandler surprised him by attempting an early takedown, because he had expected Chandler to rush him on the feet. He says he had told Daniel Cormier before the fight that he could take down the former collegiate wrestler.

Pimblett says he expected Chandler to press forward with strikes and was surprised when he shot for a takedown. He had been confident in his own ability to wrestle despite Chandler’s background.

Pimblett says he spars twice a week because it develops timing and shows whether techniques practiced on pads work against a resisting person. His coaches stop him from sparring close to a fight; he says his last session is usually about ten days before it.

He says sparring twice a week lets him test his timing against people who respond. His coaches usually stop sparring approximately ten days before competition to reduce the chance of cuts and other injuries.

Both favor allowing knees to the head of a grounded opponent. Pimblett would also allow kicks but not stomps, arguing the head has nowhere to move under a stomp. Rogan raises concern about strikes when a fighter is trapped against the cage.

They point to grounded positions where, in their view, the current prohibition on knees can encourage stalling. Rogan says the cage makes the safety question different when an opponent’s head is trapped.

Rogan argues that a grounded head-and-arm position is treated differently from a real fight when knees are forbidden. Both say allowing different strikes would change how fighters use positions such as side control, while the cage boundary adds safety concerns.

Watching old Pride footage, they discuss Melvin Manhoef’s power and Kazushi Sakuraba’s long career. They consider longer rounds, and both object to a referee standing fighters up when one has back control and a body triangle.

Watching older fights brings up the contrasting sizes of competitors in Pride and the role of teams such as Chute Boxe. They praise Manhoef’s striking and the pace of his bouts.

Rogan and Pimblett discuss the damage accumulated by Sakuraba and other fighters over long careers. Rogan says some athletes competed with visibly extensive injuries.

They consider ten-minute rounds and object to breaking up an active grappling position. Pimblett says it can take considerable work to secure an opponent’s back, and a submission opportunity can open in an instant.

Both object to separating fighters when one has secured the other’s back and remains active. Pimblett says a defender may make a small mistake at any moment, creating an opening for a choke.

They also discuss Moicano’s development as a personality. Pimblett remembers hoping Moicano would mention him after a win because he wanted a matchup, but says the fight never materialized.

They discuss Renato Moicano’s ability to promote himself and remember José Aldo’s long career. Rogan says a fighter’s public profile can change substantially depending on how they speak as well as how they compete.

They revisit Aldo’s fights and Rogan recalls the Brazilian running into the crowd after a win. They discuss how fighters’ ability to compete across weight classes can change over a career.

The pair remember Frankie Edgar’s endurance and comeback against Gray Maynard. Pimblett says he was astonished that Edgar recovered after being badly hurt early.

Pimblett says he weighed 156 pounds at his latest weigh-in and estimates he was around 190 on fight day after rehydrating and eating. He says reports that he ate an entire large bag of sweets backstage were wrong, and does not offer the food as an excuse for his loss.

Pimblett says the larger fight-day number included his tracksuit and that he rounds it down. He also disputes social-media claims about how much candy he ate backstage.

The conversation turns to endurance athletes and their unusual training. Rogan wonders whether constant exhausting workouts are suitable immediately before an MMA bout; Pimblett agrees that arriving fatigued is undesirable.

Rogan describes the endurance of ultrarunners, including Courtney Dauwalter, and the physical demands of races lasting days. Pimblett mentions an acquaintance who runs long distances every day.

They remember Ferguson’s conditioning and injuries. Pimblett thinks a weight cut Ferguson undertook after a cancelled bout, followed by another cut for Gaethje, may have taken a toll; Rogan asks why he cut when he did not have to fight.

Rogan wonders whether extreme endurance training could leave a fighter too depleted for a bout. Pimblett agrees that he would not want to enter a fight already fatigued.

Pimblett thinks Tony Ferguson’s two weight cuts in a short span before the Gaethje fight may have affected him, describing it as his personal view. For himself, the difficult part is the eight to ten weeks of dietary restriction before a fight, rather than the final bath used to sweat weight off.

Pimblett says the final sweating process feels manageable to him, but the long diet affects ordinary family and social life. He accepts the restriction as part of the way he prefers to live between camps.

Pimblett describes a particularly difficult older cut to featherweight: he says he had under four weeks to go from roughly 87 kg to 65.8 kg, ate very little and struggled through workouts. He says he exhausted himself in the fight and thinks the result might have been different under current judging criteria.

He recalls eating around 1,500 calories a day during the older featherweight preparation and struggling to get through workouts. He says the final overnight cut was among the worst he experienced.

Pimblett says he was still training and partying when a friend told him a Cage Warriors title defense had been announced. He recalls rushing to prepare on a short timetable and feeling especially poor after the final cut.

Pimblett believes the judging approach at the time gave his takedowns and control greater weight. He says he has told Julian Erosa that the outcome might have differed under the later criteria.

Rogan says he thought Jared Gordon won a close decision against Pimblett. They discuss other disputed decisions, including Jon Jones against Dominick Reyes, and how a single result can change the direction of a career.

Rogan says he scored the Gordon fight for Gordon, while Pimblett acknowledges that many viewers felt the same. Both see the result as close and discuss the career consequences of controversial decisions.

They consider how judging decisions affect fighters beyond one night. Both say they thought Reyes won against Jones, while noting the closeness and consequence of such decisions.

They also discuss Romero’s unusual physique and longevity. Rogan admires his explosiveness at an older age, while Pimblett questions whether he could still make his former weight class.

They discuss unusual athletes, including Yoel Romero, and the risks of entering separate grappling or wrestling matches while pursuing an MMA career. Pimblett says he avoids those contests because injuries could derail his main goal of becoming UFC champion.

Rogan and Pimblett disagree about Tsarukyan’s appeal while acknowledging his ability. They examine the challenge a dangerous striker faces when opponents can exploit gaps in grappling, using fights involving Mauricio Ruffy and Ciryl Gane as examples.

Pimblett says a separate grappling match carries an injury risk and might expose aspects of his game. Since becoming a UFC champion is his main goal, he prefers to concentrate on MMA.

They compare the distance between a specialist’s existing skills and what is needed against elite grapplers. Rogan asks how much a fighter can improve in a few years; Pimblett says improvement is always possible.

They discuss how an opponent with strong grappling can build a plan around an earlier weakness. Rogan asks whether a striker can close the gap quickly enough before meeting another elite wrestler or grappler.

Using Jones and Gane as an example, Rogan points to how quickly Jones took the fight to the ground. The two differ over how they interpret the finish, but agree the gap in that exchange was large.

Discussing Gane and Joshua Hokit, Pimblett criticizes what he sees as an artificial public persona. Rogan says promotion can affect a fighter’s career, but both object to the idea that winning fighters must abandon their strengths simply to appear more exciting.

Pimblett says he dislikes what he sees as people adopting a false character for promotion. Rogan suggests a public persona may help a fighter attract attention, but says he also values skill and results.

Rogan objects to pressure on a technically skilled fighter to take risks for entertainment and says unbeaten fighters should have the chance to continue competing. Pimblett recalls fans calling Georges St-Pierre boring despite his tactical skill.

Rogan argues that a fighter can be technically interesting without frequent finishes. He dislikes pressure to abandon a successful style merely to satisfy expectations of a brawl.

They praise Georges St-Pierre’s ability to combine disciplines and his focused demeanor in the cage. Rogan describes training designed to expose him to chaotic situations; Pimblett says nothing fully reproduces a real fight.

Rogan recalls meeting Georges St-Pierre outside the gym and says his polite manner contrasts with his intensity in competition. Pimblett says St-Pierre was similarly courteous when they met at an event.

Pimblett sees a tradeoff in large gyms: they offer many sparring partners and styles, but he values a smaller team’s closeness. He says he would not fight his teammates, whom he considers family, and imagines vacating a title rather than facing a teammate for it.

Pimblett’s ideal scenario would be winning and defending a title, then moving up rather than blocking a teammate’s opportunity. He emphasizes that this is a hypothetical dream, not a plan he can guarantee.

Rogan says some fighters see a match with a training partner as business and remain friends afterward. Pimblett cannot imagine that with someone he sees daily, corners and trusts in sparring; Rogan says both arrangements can make sense to different teams.

Rogan notes that trusted partners moderate strikes and submissions in practice so everyone can train again. Both say hours of shared preparation create a closeness that can make fighting a teammate difficult to imagine.

Pimblett says he has stayed at the gym he joined at 15 and has retained the same head coach, Paul Rimmer. Rogan says a close team can be valuable, while acknowledging that some fighters need to change gyms to get the coaching they need.

Rogan says remaining with the same team works when coaching continues to meet a fighter’s needs, though some athletes eventually have to move. They also discuss disciplined team cultures and the way senior athletes can set expectations.

They discuss other lightweight contenders and whether Usman Nurmagomedov may enter the UFC. They consider Oliveira’s grappling against Diego Lopes and the choices available to experienced fighters late in their careers.

The pair assess Oliveira and Lopes as possible lightweight opponents. Pimblett expects Oliveira’s clinch and control to matter, while Rogan notes Lopes’s grappling and scrambling ability.

They consider Oliveira’s control against Max Holloway and whether Lopes could scramble out of difficult positions. Both describe the lightweight division as crowded with strong possible opponents.

After watching a clip of Conor McGregor discussing a possible return, they recall his peak performances and debate how money and time away can change a fighter’s career. They also talk about older boxers continuing to compete.

Rogan says McGregor’s prime performance against Eddie Alvarez showed how good he could be. Pimblett agrees, and they discuss the difficulty of maintaining a fighter’s routine after major financial success.

They talk about Manny Pacquiao’s interests outside boxing, including pool and chess. Pimblett says he has never taken up chess, while Rogan says a competitive player can devote enormous time to learning it.

Pimblett recalls his coach’s comparison of jiu-jitsu to playing chess while drowning. Both describe the sport as constantly changing, with moves and counters emerging as a position develops.

Rogan says grappling offers many more possible movements than a board game, with each response changing the next available move. They enjoy seeing unfamiliar solutions appear in familiar positions.

Pimblett says he usually grapples with gloves and incorporates strikes to make his training relevant to MMA. Without the threat of being hit, he says, people may hold positions differently. Rogan agrees that rules change which grappling choices are practical.

Pimblett says simply indicating a punch while grappling does not always make a partner react as a real strike would. Gloves let them incorporate the possibility of being hit, even though bulky gloves restrict some techniques.

They discuss women’s weight classes and the upcoming Amanda Nunes–Kayla Harrison matchup. Pimblett says he cannot pick a winner; Rogan weighs Nunes’s striking against Harrison’s size and grappling, while both note the fighters’ time away from competition.

They consider how difficult the cut to bantamweight can be for a physically large fighter. Neither offers a firm prediction for Nunes versus Harrison, and Rogan notes questions about time away and returning after surgery.

They compare possible size and strength advantages in the Nunes–Harrison fight. Rogan highlights Nunes’s power and experience, while Pimblett says the uncertainty prevents him choosing a winner.

Pimblett recalls meeting Harrison during fight-week media activities and being struck by her size. They speculate about how much she might weigh in the cage, without presenting a measured number.

Pimblett says his teammate Luke Riley hits especially hard in training, attributing it to timing and accuracy developed through years of striking. He says Gaethje damaged his face but did not hurt him in the way some observers assumed.

Pimblett says he has been hit hard in training by a smaller boxer and by teammate Luke Riley. He distinguishes punching power from timing and accuracy, saying the latter can make a strike especially effective.

He says a strike in his UFC debut was among the cleanest he had taken, though he disputes the impression that it had badly rocked him. Later, he says, he had to work on defending the left hook after facing Gordon.

Pimblett says he underestimated Jared Gordon despite training hard, reasoning incorrectly from Gordon’s earlier fight with one of his teammates. He also injured his ankle early in the bout and later needed reconstructive surgery.

Pimblett says an ankle problem became much worse early in the Gordon fight. He later underwent reconstructive work and spent months with limited mobility, including time on crutches and in a boot.

The ankle injury kept him from training for months. Pimblett says being unable to exercise while facing criticism over the Gordon decision left him severely depressed; after surgery he spent the early recovery period on the couch and used prescribed pain medication.

He says he could not train normally or release frustration through exercise, and initially could barely put pressure on the foot. The negative reaction to the decision compounded a difficult recovery at home.

He returned gradually, first boxing carefully and later sparring. He remembers struggling badly in an early session after the layoff. He also says becoming a father has helped him mature and that he should have done more rehabilitation.

Pimblett remembers taking off his recovery boot shortly before his wedding. As he returned to the gym, he began with limited boxing and careful movement before adding more training; his first hard sparring session exposed how much fitness he had lost.

He remembers returning to sparring against a fresh teammate after months away and being exhausted by the third round. A coach hesitated to pull him out, knowing how strongly he would object.

Pimblett reflects that he was less mature during the earlier recovery and says having children changed his perspective. Rogan notes that a professional fighter’s life can be unlike a conventional working routine.

Rogan and Pimblett discuss eye pokes and the consequences for Tom Aspinall. Pimblett says his own experience should not be used to judge another fighter’s injury because eye pokes differ. They argue for stricter penalties, while acknowledging that some fouls are accidental.

Pimblett says the severity and effect of different eye pokes vary, so one fighter continuing does not establish what another should be able to do. Rogan argues that referees should treat dangerous fouls seriously.

They review an old fight in which they believe an eye gouge was deliberate. Rogan argues that a serious intentional foul can threaten a career and deserves a strong response even if the injured fighter goes on to win.

Rogan calls for an immediate point deduction for an eye poke and says repeat offenses should carry severe consequences. They distinguish inadvertent incidents from what they see as deliberately dangerous fouls.

They contrast fouls that visibly change a fight with those that receive less attention because the injured fighter still wins. Rogan says the risk to sight makes the offense serious either way.

Pimblett recounts his Gaethje fight from his perspective, saying eye pokes and a disputed foul interrupted him. He nevertheless credits Gaethje and says he had expected him to beat Topuria. Rogan points to Gaethje’s composure under pressure.

Pimblett says he felt a disputed stoppage for an alleged low blow gave Gaethje recovery time, while another incident against him went unaddressed. He presents these as his recollection of the fight, while also acknowledging Gaethje’s win.

Pimblett says he had picked Gaethje to defeat Topuria despite others doubting him. They discuss the cost of expending too much energy early, and Rogan credits Gaethje’s ability to stay composed when a fight is difficult.

Pimblett says he spent too much energy trying to finish Tony Ferguson after a year away and felt exhausted by the third round. His corner urged him to get a takedown; he says he held position because he believed he was ahead and needed to win the round.

They return to Ferguson’s durability and Pimblett’s fatigue in the third round. Pimblett says controlling the final round was the practical choice once he believed he had already done enough to be ahead.

They praise Gaethje’s calm between rounds and his ability to take and move with strikes. Rogan also credits Topuria’s boxing, even as Pimblett questions his size at lightweight.

Looking toward a possible future fight with Topuria, Pimblett says he would like to return to Miami, though a different venue might be used. He emphasizes that the division’s plans remain unsettled.

Pimblett says he enjoyed competing in Miami and would prefer to return there if circumstances allowed. The two discuss other proposed venues while recognizing that no matchup has been finalized.

Rogan recommends a Brooklyn steakhouse as they compare possible fight destinations. Pimblett says he enjoys steak, and the two briefly discuss their food preferences.

Their food conversation leads to an exchange about eating meat and other diets. Pimblett says a training partner eats a mostly plant-based diet with fish.

Pimblett talks about his investment in a lager and the two compare drinks and serving sizes. They then discuss how drinking can shape social encounters and business relationships.

Pimblett says he recently invested in the beer they are tasting and describes its ingredients and alcohol content. Their discussion moves to differences between metric and US measurements.

Pimblett says many of his close friends have known him since childhood and his mother still lives nearby. He is frequently asked for photographs, but sees that attention as connected to doing well; he says strangers have not approached him to start fights.

Pimblett says most people who approach him ask for photographs and are friendly. Although interruptions can sometimes be inconvenient, he associates the attention with his career going well.

He says Liverpool is a small community where people know one another or have mutual friends. Living close to his family and longtime friends helps him stay connected to where he came from.

They return to the prospect of Anfield, with Pimblett estimating that a fight configuration could accommodate more people than a football match. They discuss rain cover, then compare it with Real Madrid’s stadium, which has a roof and a removable pitch.

They estimate how a stadium could be arranged for a fight, with some spectators on the pitch and others in covered stands. Pimblett thinks local supporters would create a memorable atmosphere.

Pimblett remembers attending concerts at Anfield, including Bruce Springsteen and Elton John. He explains that a concert stage changes which sections can be used compared with a football match.

They look at the stadium’s system for storing and maintaining sections of grass. Pimblett says a removable pitch and roof could make the venue suitable for a fight; he would also welcome a match there against Topuria.

They watch a demonstration of Real Madrid’s pitch being moved and stored beneath the stadium. Both are impressed by the engineering and imagine how removing the grass could accommodate another kind of event.

Pimblett says he would be willing to fight Topuria in Spain as well as at home. The retractable roof answers one of their concerns about holding a fight in an outdoor football stadium.

Rogan remembers traveling extensively for UFC events while the podcast was growing, before reducing the number of trips. They return to the noise that a large stadium crowd could make.

Rogan remembers the crowds that traveled from Ireland for McGregor’s fights in Las Vegas. Both credit McGregor with expanding MMA’s mainstream audience, and Rogan recalls Khabib Nurmagomedov addressing those fans before their fight.

Rogan recalls Irish supporters filling Las Vegas hotels and public spaces for McGregor’s fights. Pimblett compares Liverpool’s cultural ties with Ireland and says supporters from his city also travel.

Rogan contrasts Nurmagomedov’s disciplined public manner with McGregor’s flamboyance. They say both became major figures in the sport, and watch a clip from the buildup to their fight.

Both say McGregor brought new spectators to MMA. Rogan compares that effect with other major figures who broadened public interest in the UFC.

They replay a clip of Nurmagomedov addressing Irish fans before facing McGregor. Rogan remembers his confidence in a hostile crowd, while Pimblett says he wishes Nurmagomedov had fought longer.

Turning back to the upcoming card, they analyze Gane’s movement and striking against Hokit and discuss how an athletic heavyweight can use speed and range. Pimblett says he would choose Gane, while Rogan sees the matchup as unpredictable.

Rogan discusses Gane’s athletic background and movement, suggesting that playing basketball may help explain some of his mobility. They contrast a lighter heavyweight’s speed with the challenge of facing larger opponents.

Rogan thinks Gane’s athletic movement makes him a difficult heavyweight opponent. They discuss size, reach and the possibility of using wrestling to counter a technically strong striker.

The matchup discussion turns to the physical dimensions of the heavyweights. Both consider whether a smaller heavyweight could cut to a lower class, while acknowledging advantages to remaining quick at heavyweight.

Pimblett says he was surprised by a recent heavyweight fight and describes how he watches UFC cards the next morning without checking results. Rogan remembers speaking with a fighter after a demanding contest.

They examine a middleweight matchup involving Caio Borralho and a taller kickboxer. Pimblett thinks Borralho would need to grapple; Rogan says closing distance safely against an experienced striker is the challenge.

Rogan says a tall, skilled striker can punish attempts to close the distance. Pimblett says the height difference also offers openings for a wrestler to attack the legs, making the matchup a tradeoff.

Reviewing the bout, Rogan says the wrestler absorbed extensive punishment and wonders how fully a fighter can recover after such a contest. Pimblett says he personally prefers to go out fighting.

Rogan points to a sequence of body shots and says the damage built over the rounds. Both praise the striker’s technique as they watch the exchange.

Watching a striking-heavy fight, Rogan worries about the cumulative cost of absorbing punishment and argues that stopping a badly injured fighter can preserve their future. Pimblett says he personally would want to continue rather than stop; Rogan says a friend or doctor might need to intervene to prevent lasting eye damage.

Rogan challenges that preference with the example of a broken eye socket and the possibility of permanent loss of sight. Pimblett repeats that he would want to continue, while Rogan says someone close to him might have to make a different decision.

The disagreement continues over a coach’s duty when a fighter cannot see. Rogan distinguishes competitive courage from the practical need to avoid preventable long-term damage; Pimblett stresses his desire to keep fighting.

They then imagine a special contest with a long single round, no routine stand-ups and certain grounded strikes allowed away from the cage. Pimblett says he would be willing to compete under such rules.

They imagine a longer fight with no standing restarts and discuss how positions might carry across rounds. Pimblett argues that a very high number of takedowns can also mean an opponent repeatedly escaped, and says he values controlling someone after getting them down.

Pimblett contrasts repeated takedowns with a performance in which a fighter takes an opponent down once per round and maintains control. Rogan says repeated attempts can also be a deliberate way to overwhelm someone.

They discuss Merab Dvalishvili’s pace against Petr Yan. Rogan sees repeated attempts as a way to overwhelm an opponent; Pimblett thinks overaggression can also consume energy and praises Yan’s striking.

They praise Yan’s striking and conditioning in demanding fights against Dvalishvili. Pimblett thinks excessive early aggression can have a cost later, while Rogan notes the danger of giving Yan time to settle into striking range.

Pimblett says multiple weight cuts and frequent bouts can take a toll. He would have liked a third fight that year, but says smaller injuries needed time to heal.

Pimblett says minor injuries prevented him from fighting again that year. For a hypothetical April bout, he expects to begin camp after a family trip in January and says that, even outside camp, he trains most mornings and does strength and conditioning twice a week.

Pimblett says he would continue training during a family trip to Thailand and start a full camp after returning home. The schedule depends on a fight being arranged; he says he remains in the gym even while managing a minor injury.

Asked how far ahead opponents are set, Pimblett says the timing varies. He recalls hearing Chandler was possible months in advance, while other bouts were confirmed closer to the date; family plans also influenced his preferred schedule.

He recalls the Chandler matchup being discussed well before it was announced and wanting a specific date to leave time for his child’s birthday. Other opponents were settled with different amounts of notice.

He credits nutritionist and coach Paul Reed with planning his food and weight cuts. Before the Saint Denis fight, Pimblett says a scan showed he had gained muscle, so they adjusted his diet; despite worrying about his weight three weeks out, he says he made it.

Pimblett says a scan showed an increase in muscle before his last camp, prompting Reed to adjust the diet. He feared missing weight a few weeks out, but says the revised plan worked.

They praise Carlos Prates’s striking and composure. Pimblett recalls showing him around Liverpool and taking him to Anfield; Rogan points to the way Prates varies attacks and sets up knees to the body.

They discuss welterweights and Pimblett recalls meeting Michael Morales and spending time with Carlos Prates. Both praise Prates’s calm striking and the way he sets up body attacks.

They describe Prates as a calm, dangerous striker and discuss his time fighting in Thailand. Pimblett says he enjoys watching him compete.

Rogan says he expects a rule change concerning kicks to the knee; Pimblett disagrees with banning the technique, while Rogan worries about career-changing injuries. They also debate earlier rules on downward elbows and revisit disputed decisions.

Pimblett would keep the contested knee kick legal as part of fighting; Rogan says he expects a change because the technique can cause serious injuries. They also discuss why a former rule restricted a particular downward elbow.

They revisit decisions they disagreed with, including Shogun Rua against Lyoto Machida. Both remember Rua returning to win their rematch, and Pimblett names him among his favorite fighters.

Both remember close or disputed judging decisions, including Rua and Machida. Pimblett says the outcome of one bout can affect a fighter’s subsequent opportunities and career trajectory.

Pimblett names Pride-era fighters among his early favorites and says Diego Sanchez versus Clay Guida sparked his interest in MMA. After watching a Vitor Belfort–Rich Franklin event live, he joined a gym about two weeks later. He hopes to fight again around April, depending on how the lightweight division develops.