Paddy Pimblett has come under scrutiny after revealing just how much weight he regained between the official weigh-ins and his UFC 329 bout with Benoit Saint-Denis.
Pimblett officially weighed 156 pounds (70.8kg) for the lightweight contest but claimed he entered the Octagon at around 190 pounds (86.2kg) roughly 36 hours later.
Speaking on The Green Light podcast, the Liverpool fighter said he had already reached 168 pounds just two-and-a-half hours after weighing in, despite consuming only water. He estimated that he was around 180 pounds by the ceremonial weigh-ins before reaching approximately 194 pounds while fully clothed at T-Mobile Arena.
Pimblett estimated his actual fight-night weight at around 190 pounds — roughly a 34-pound increase from his official weigh-in weight.
His weight has also fluctuated significantly outside fight camp. Pimblett revealed that he had reached as high as 210 pounds during his time away from competition before beginning the process of cutting down for UFC 329.
The revelations have sparked criticism from some fans, with some accusing Pimblett of being a “weight bully” and arguing that his significant size advantage over Saint-Denis gave him an unfair edge inside the Octagon.
However, Pimblett’s reported 210-pound figure reflects his out-of-camp weight rather than the amount he lost during fight week. His cut to 156 pounds took place throughout his training camp and preparation for the bout.
