Full Send Podcast Episode Summary: Paddy Pimblett | Ep. 154

Podcast Information:

• Title: Full Send Podcast
• Host/Author: Shots Podcast Network
• Description: Full Send Podcast brought to you by Happy Dad Hard Seltzer.
• Episode: Paddy Pimblett | Ep. 154
• Release Date: April 7, 2025

Introduction

In Episode 154 of the Full Send Podcast, hosted by Shots Podcast Network, the spotlight is on the charismatic and ever-popular mixed martial artist, Paddy Pimblett. The episode delves deep into Paddy's career developments, his upcoming bout against Michael Chandler, insights into the lightweight division, personal struggles, and future aspirations. The conversation is candid, insightful, and enriched with Paddy's trademark humor and honesty.

Upcoming Fight with Michael Chandler

UFC Fight Week Excitement

The episode kicks off with palpable excitement as the hosts introduce Paddy Pimblett, affectionately referred to as "Patty the Baddie." They discuss the anticipation surrounding his upcoming fight against Michael Chandler at UFC 314.

Fight Discussion and Strategy

Paddy shares his thoughts on Michael Chandler’s fighting style and how he plans to counter it:

• Powerful Strikes:
  “He’s got his main thing that you’ve got to watch out for is power in his hands. I mean, he comes forward and he throws big, big left hooks, big overhand rights.”
  (00:35)

• Confidence in Victory:
  “I don’t see where he can beat me. The only way he’s going to beat me is if he throws a Hail Mary punch and it knocks me out. But I don’t get knocked out, lad.”
  (03:23)

Impact on Lightweight Division

Paddy emphasizes the significance of this fight in reshaping the lightweight landscape:

• Elevation in Rankings:
  “Once I beat Michael, that's going to change. I'm not going to be a prospect anymore. I'm going to be a contender.”
  (04:40)

• Future Contenders:
  “I’ll be in the top seven fighters in the world behind Islam, Makhachev, and I’ll be asking for a top four fighter after that.”
  (05:11)

Insights on the Lightweight Division

Current State and Future Prospects

Paddy provides an analysis of the current lightweight division, highlighting the aging "old guard" and the potential for new talents to emerge:

• Aging Champions:
  “Chandler, who is 38. You've got Dustin, Justin, and Charles, who are all 35 and older.”
  (07:02)

• Emerging Talent:
  “In the next two or three years, the top 10 is going to look completely different.”
  (07:02)

Potential Matchups

The discussion touches on possible future fights and how they might influence the division:

• Ilia Shamerov’s Move to 155:
  “He’s moving up to 155, and that fight’s there down the line. That fight’s got to happen. That’s a fight that you can have as a pay-per-view main event with no title on the line.”
  (05:30)

• Sean O’Malley vs. Peter Aerts:
  “I still want to see Sean O’Malley versus Peter Aerts too.”
  (31:55)

Personal Career Journey and UFC Relationship

Early Career and UFC Decisions

Paddy recounts his early days in MMA, his initial reluctance to sign with the UFC, and the strategic decisions that shaped his career:

• Turning Down Early UFC Offers:
  “I knew I wasn't ready. I was still a child, still a child fighting men. And I know for a fact of order to come into the UFC at that time, I probably would have got rag doll by men where I was.”
  (12:11)

• Gratitude Towards Cage Warriors:
  “I'm very grateful to Cage Warriors. They set me up for the start of my adult life really.”
  (12:54)

Building a Strong UFC Relationship

Despite initial hesitations, Paddy emphasizes his positive relationship with the UFC:

• Contract and Performance:
  “As soon as I knocked Luigi Benzemini out and got the mic and said, scousers, don't get knocked out the UFC ever. Love me, I'm your God, who don't want you.”
  (37:13)

• Current Standing:
  “As I say, I've got a great relationship with UFC. I always have done since the first sign, and I can't see it souring anytime soon.”
  (37:13)

Weight Cutting and Physical Preparation

Challenges and Strategies

Paddy opens up about the grueling process of weight cutting, the physical toll it takes, and how he manages it:

• Extreme Weight Cuts:
  “I was like 96 kilo. But, like, that's a lot of water and like keeping all of it because I weighed myself again on the Friday after a week of training, and I was like 90 kilo.”
  (16:05)

• Mental Fortitude:
  “You've got to have the mental fortitude for it. It's more mental and physical, really.”
  (18:21)

Improvements and Current Practices

Reflecting on past experiences, Paddy discusses how he's optimized his weight-cutting regimen:

• Learning from the Past:
  “I've done 30 and a half pound last time. And I was heavier at this stage. Last time, a week out, I wasn't 172, it was more like 174, 175. So this time I'm gonna have less weight to cut.”
  (18:54)

Mental Health and Personal Struggles

Facing Adversity

Paddy shares his personal battles with mental health, especially following tragic events and challenging fights:

• Loss of a Friend:
  “He took his own life... It was a rough one, but it was just.”
  (20:17)

• Impact of Fights:
  “After that fight, it affected me bad because in the first round I had a deep rear naked choke on and if my hand weren't so weak it would have put him to sleep. But because my hand was so weak it never...”
  (22:11)

Advocacy and Support

Dedicated to breaking the stigma around men's mental health, Paddy discusses his efforts to support and advocate for mental well-being:

• Charitable Contributions:
  “With the Body Foundation, I try and help charities that help with men's mental health. There's a charity in the UK called James's Place and we donated money to that from my foundation.”
  (20:23)

• Personal Advice:
  “Just talk to somebody, get it off your chest.”
  (24:16)

Future Plans and Career Roadmap

Aiming for the Championship

Paddy outlines his ambitious yet structured plan to ascend to the top of the lightweight division:

• Immediate Goals:
  “I’m gonna beat Michael Chandler. I’m gonna finish Michael Chandler in two rounds.”
  (35:36)

• Long-Term Aspirations:
  “And then I’m on a fight. Someone like Charles Oliveira and Abu Dhabi Charles or Justin, I think Dustin will be retired by then... And then once I beat them, fight for the title in 2026.”
  (35:38)

Potential Super Fights

Open to the idea of expanding his horizons, Paddy contemplates the possibility of engaging in high-profile matches outside the UFC:

• Boxing and Super Fights:
  “If someone was offering me millions of pounds, hundreds of millions to box someone, I’m doing it.”
  (36:35)

Conclusion

The episode concludes on an optimistic note, with Paddy expressing his determination and gratitude:

• Determined Focus:
  “I'm in the gym every single day, even after a fight, even when you see me fat. I'm in the gym every day training. I don't miss a session.”
  (27:18)

• Final Motivation:
  “I'm gonna bring it. I'm gonna come out and I'm gonna take Michael Chandler's head off... I’m gonna beat him.”
  (42:07)

The hosts wrap up by expressing their support and excitement for Paddy's upcoming fight, reaffirming Paddy's status as a rising star poised to make significant waves in the UFC lightweight division.

Notable Quotes

• Paddy on Taking Fights:
  “Whoever I get offered, I say, yeah, I'm never turning a fight down. It's just not in me. I'm a fighter.”
  (02:35)

• On Fighter Evolution:
  “He’s made this. Changed his nickname to a nickname, hasn't he? Like legend or something. Yeah. Should have changed it to El Churizo.”
  (05:30)

• Mental Health Advocacy:
  “It's a proper old fashioned stigma. We shouldn’t be even saying in 2025.”
  (21:53)

• Reflection on Past Fights:
  “If I were to steamroll Jared and then fought someone in the top 15, you never know, my career might be different. I might have got beaten by.”
  (30:22)

This episode of the Full Send Podcast offers an in-depth look into Paddy Pimblett's mindset, strategies, and personal journey, providing fans and listeners with valuable insights into one of MMA's most entertaining and promising fighters.