Paddy Pimblett could be on the verge of booking his next UFC fight after teasing that an announcement may arrive within days.
“Hopefully, I have a fight announced soon. We’ll find out in the next few days,” Pimblett said.
The lightweight contender has several possible options available, but a matchup with BMF champion Charles Oliveira could make the most sense given the current state of the division.
Paddy Pimblett vs Charles Oliveira Makes Sense
Charles Oliveira was originally scheduled to face Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 331, but withdrew from the bout following the tragic death of his teammate Allan Nascimento. Tsarukyan has since been rebooked to face Mauricio Ruffy.
That could open the door for Paddy Pimblett.
The Liverpool native is coming off a return to the win column and is looking to continue his climb toward another shot at the lightweight title. With Justin Gaethje holding the championship, the top of the division is already crowded.
Charles Oliveira remains one of the highest-ranked available contenders and would provide Pimblett with a significant test without requiring either fighter to wait too long.
Pimblett has also previously expressed his desire to prove he is the best submission artist in the UFC by defeating Oliveira. Now, with Oliveira potentially available, he could finally get the opportunity to make that statement inside the Octagon.
Ilia Topuria Is Another Possibility
Ilia Topuria could also be considered for Pimblett, given their long-running rivalry and the amount of interest surrounding a potential fight.
However, Topuria is unlikely to return anytime soon.
The former champion suffered significant injuries during his recent fight with Justin Gaethje, who defeated him to become the undisputed lightweight champion. Topuria is expected to need considerable time to recover before returning to competition, making a fight with Pimblett unlikely in the immediate future.
That leaves Oliveira as a much more realistic option if Pimblett wants to fight soon.
Paddy Pimblett Has Another Option
If Charles Oliveira is unavailable, another possibility for Paddy Pimblett could be Quillan Salkilld, who sits just below ‘The Baddy’ in the lightweight rankings.
Salkilld is coming off an impressive victory over Mateusz Gamrot and could potentially be interested in a quick turnaround. A fight against Pimblett would allow him to jump into the top portion of the rankings.
However, Pimblett fighting someone further down the rankings would be difficult to justify at this stage.
Above him sits champion Justin Gaethje, while Oliveira and Max Holloway are also positioned around the top of the division. Holloway has indicated that he does not plan to return until next year following his victory over Conor McGregor at UFC 329, while Arman Tsarukyan is already booked.
With those options limited, Charles Oliveira stands out as the clearest opponent for Pimblett.
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