Podcast Summary: The Daniel Cormier Show - Paddy Pimblett on Justin Gaethje's OVERRATED POWER, Ilia Topuria, BEEF with Arman

Podcast: The Herd with Colin Cowherd
Host: Daniel Cormier
Date: January 23, 2026
Guest: Paddy Pimblett (UFC Fighter)
Episode Focus: A candid, high-energy conversation about Paddy Pimblett’s fighting mindset, rivalries, upcoming fights, and unique appeal among young fans.

Episode Overview

This episode features Daniel Cormier in a dynamic one-on-one interview with rising UFC star Paddy Pimblett (“Paddy the Baddy”). The discussion weaves through Paddy’s infectious influence on fans—especially the younger generation—his self-confidence, beef with rival Arman Tsarukyan, thoughts on Justin Gaethje's power, potential matchups with Ilia Topuria, and his thoughts on the fight game's pressures, motivations, and rewards.

Cormier and Pimblett’s friendly banter captures the raw, unfiltered charisma that makes Paddy a fan favorite and a divisive figure in MMA.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Paddy Pimblett’s Connection with the Youth

[03:03 – 04:18]

• Cormier recounts how even young fans are captivated by Pimblett’s energy, asking about his appeal.
• Pimblett: “Just by being myself. I still feel like a young kid myself. Still feel 18 in the brain. So I’m just like one of them…not being fake. I think that’s the main part of people actually liking you.”
  (04:00 – 04:18)

2. Mindset Going Into High-Stakes Fights

[04:18 – 06:20]

• Pimblett reflects on his win over Michael Chandler—saying he started slow but always “knew” the outcome would go his way.
• On approaching Justin Gaethje, Paddy’s belief is unshakeable:
  • Pimblett: “I’ve just always had this weird form of self belief...It’s the only thing I’m confident in. I know how good I am at mixed martial arts.”
    (05:44 – 06:06)

3. Grappling vs. Striking – Can Paddy Take Down Gaethje?

[06:16 – 06:34]

• DC questions whether Paddy can take Justin down; Paddy is unfazed, referencing critics’ doubts about his taking down Chandler.
• Cormier: “But what if you can’t take him down? Can you stand and strike with Justin Gaethje?”
• Pimblett: “Yeah, I know for a fact I can. He went life and death with Michael Chandler...imagine what I’m going to do to him.”
  (06:16 – 06:34)

4. The Arman Tsarukyan Beef

[06:34 – 08:58]

• Paddy addresses hate from fans, using doubters as motivation.
  • “People have doubted me my whole career...I use them as motivation and push me on.” (07:07 – 07:16)
• He believes fans only support Arman because they dislike Paddy.
• On Arman: “He’s a spoiled little...I mean, he’s had everything handed to him...He wouldn’t know what a day’s work is.” (07:54 – 08:14)
• “Posh Boy” explained: Paddy compares Arman to someone born into privilege, contrasting their backgrounds.

5. Attitude Toward Justin Gaethje

[09:04 – 09:54]

• No real animosity towards Justin—just competitive respect.
• Amusing moment: recalling a tense promotional staredown—"We were like, Jesus, are we gonna have to kiss here or something?" (09:04 – 09:26)

6. Breaking Down Justin Gaethje’s Power

[10:04 – 11:03]

• Paddy openly says he doesn’t fear Gaethje’s punching power:
  • Pimblett: “I think his power is overrated. He hasn’t knocked anyone out with his hands since James Vick. He knocked Poirier out with a leg kick, but that’s a Poirier on the ass end of his career...”
    (10:27 – 11:03)
• Emphasizes durability—he’s not worried about being hurt by Gaethje.

7. Title Picture: Beating Gaethje and What’s Next

[15:44 – 16:57]

• Pimblett will not fight Ilia Topuria as soon as April—wants time off after this fight:
  • “I’m going on holiday in February. I won’t have enough time ... You can wait a couple of months. End of June, start of July." (16:16 – 16:30)
• If Topuria doesn’t defend in June/July, Paddy wants him stripped: “If he doesn’t come back by June, July, then he needs to be stripped ... I'll fight Armin.” (16:36 – 16:57)

8. Paddy’s Size Advantage & Weight Cuts

[17:26 – 18:49]

• DC teases Paddy about his reputation for extreme weight gains between fights.
  • Pimblett: “When I was in America ... I still got up to like 200 pounds ... but I still walk around at like 195 with abs.” (17:26 – 18:11)
• Paddy says his size—especially compared to shorter fighters like Ilia and Arman—will matter in the octagon.

9. What Winning the Interim Belt Means

[18:49 – 19:20]

• Deeply personal milestone for Paddy:
  • “Everything. To be honest, it’ll be a culmination of a lifetime’s work... started training 16 years ago ... my whole adult life has been training for this moment.” (19:01 – 19:20)

10. Football Banter – Liverpool vs. Arsenal

[19:32 – 20:21]

• Entertaining football smack talk between the two:
  • Paddy: “We’re winning two nil right now, lad.”
  • Cormier: “I hope for some good luck for y’all because I hate for a champion like y’all were last year to look so bad when we, the Arsenal of London, are playing so, so well right now...”
  • Paddy: “You still won’t win the league though … City are going to win it.”
    (19:32 – 20:21)

Notable Quotes

• On why young fans connect with him:
  • “Just by being myself...I still feel like a young kid myself...not being fake.” — Paddy Pimblett, (04:00)
• On doubters:
  • “People have doubted me my whole career ... but I use them as motivation and to push me on...” — Paddy Pimblett, (07:07)
• On Arman Tsarukyan:
  • “He’s a spoiled little ... he’s had everything handed to him on a silver platter...” — Paddy Pimblett, (07:54)
• On Gaethje’s power:
  • “I think his power is overrated. He hasn’t knocked anyone out with his hands since James Vick ...” — Paddy Pimblett, (10:27)
• On size in the division:
  • “My size will play a big factor, to be honest ... Arman and Ilia are both a lot shorter, and that'll play a factor when it comes to fighting on Saturday night.” — Paddy Pimblett, (18:25)
• On achieving UFC gold:
  • “It’ll be a culmination of a lifetime’s work ... my whole adult life, I’ve been training for this moment.” — Paddy Pimblett, (19:01)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:03] – Paddy on connecting with youth/fans
• [05:23] – Discussing taking down elite wrestlers like Chandler and Gaethje
• [07:07] – Motivation from haters/doubters
• [07:54] – The “posh boy” beef with Arman Tsarukyan
• [09:26] – Lighthearted staredown story with Justin Gaethje
• [10:27] – Breakdown of Gaethje’s “overrated” power
• [16:16] – Timeline and conditions for fighting Topuria
• [17:26] – Paddy on bulking, weight, and physical advantages
• [19:01] – Emotional significance of winning the interim championship
• [19:32] – Football rivalry banter (Liverpool vs. Arsenal)

Memorable Moments

• The “Kiss” Staredown: Paddy jokes about the awkwardness of promo faceoffs—“Are we gonna have to kiss here or something?” (09:19)
• Body Image and Abs: Paddy deadpans about always having abs at 195 pounds, despite fan memes and media scrutiny. (18:00)
• Posh Boy Dissection: Entertaining cultural breakdown of “posh boy,” with Victoria Beckham and Arman Tsarukyan references. (08:23 – 08:41)
• Reds vs. Arsenal: The comfort rivals found in switching to playful football smack talk, grounding the interview with relatable banter. (19:32 – 20:21)

Conclusion

This episode offers a fast-paced, entertaining, and unfiltered look into Paddy Pimblett’s mindset, his rivalries, motivations, and personality—both inside and outside the cage. DC’s rapport with Paddy brings out both hype and humor, leaving listeners with a clear sense of why Pimblett commands such devotion and controversy in the MMA world.