Overview of JRE MMA Show #188 with Paddy Pimblett
Joe Rogan talks with Liverpool lightweight Paddy Pimblett about his career, training, weight cuts and the crowded UFC lightweight division. They revisit his submission win over Benoît Saint Denis, discuss a possible future fight with Ilia Topuria and debate how MMA rules could better reward effective grappling while reducing controversial stoppages and fouls.
Paddy Pimblett’s Career and the Lightweight Division
Pimblett says he began training in MMA at 15 and had his first amateur fight at 16. He credits years of training at the same Liverpool gym, close ties with his teammates and a strong European competition scene for his development. He and Rogan praise Cage Warriors as a demanding route to the UFC, where rising fighters face serious opposition before reaching the promotion.
They describe lightweight as one of MMA’s deepest and most exciting divisions. Pimblett says he is waiting to see how the title picture develops, with names including Justin Gaethje, Alexander Volkanovski, Arman Tsarukyan, Charles Oliveira and Topuria in the mix. Both see a Pimblett–Topuria bout as a major potential matchup, though they disagree about how much Topuria’s rise was tied to their rivalry.
Pimblett recounts that the feud began with an online exchange when he was young. He says he did not understand the historical context behind comments that angered Topuria, and views their later confrontation at a UFC event as an escalation of that misunderstanding. He respects Topuria’s ability as a fighter but says he does not like him personally.
Pimblett also hopes to fight at Madison Square Garden before retiring, but says Anfield, Liverpool’s football stadium, would be his dream venue. He and Rogan imagine the scale of a stadium event and discuss the challenges of staging one outdoors in English weather.
Fight Craft, Training and Competition
Rogan praises Pimblett’s fast submission of Saint Denis, which Pimblett says came from reading his opponent’s habits. He expected Saint Denis to shoot for a takedown and had studied his tendencies with help from teammates. The finish developed into a variation of a Peruvian necktie, a position Pimblett says he had not used in a fight before. He expected Saint Denis to refuse to tap and says he felt respect—and some sympathy—for his opponent after the bout.
They also discuss Pimblett’s striking against Bobby Green. Pimblett says he used his reach and kicks to limit Green’s movement and keep him at distance. Rogan points to calf kicks as a major tactical change in modern fighting, and they discuss why switching stances can help fighters deal with opponents who target the lead leg.
Pimblett says he likes to spar regularly because it helps him test his timing and techniques against live resistance. He describes the way his upbeat walkout persona gives way to intense focus once he enters the cage: at that point, he says, his attention is on his opponent and the referee.
Both men value close-knit teams. Pimblett says he considers his teammates family and would not want to fight them, even for a major payday. He contrasts that approach with larger gyms where fighters who train under the same roof may still compete against one another. He also argues that teammates’ trust matters in training, where partners protect each other so they can keep working.
Rules, Judging and Fighter Safety
Rogan and Pimblett argue that MMA should allow more techniques associated with Pride-era rules, especially knees to the head of grounded opponents. They say the current rules can let fighters rest in positions that would be dangerous in a real fight. They are more cautious about soccer kicks and stomps near the cage, where a fighter’s head may be trapped against the boundary.
They also criticize referees standing fighters up when one has secured back control and is still working. In their view, a fighter who has earned a dominant position should have time to advance it. They question the value of celebrating large takedown totals when the opponent repeatedly gets back up, and praise sustained control as a clearer sign of effective wrestling.
Eye pokes are a particular concern. Both say accidental and deliberate fouls can cause lasting harm, and argue that officials should respond more firmly to eye pokes, especially when they appear intentional. They distinguish Pimblett’s eye poke in his Gaethje fight from more severe injuries, emphasizing that the impact can vary from one incident to another.
They also discuss oblique kicks to the knee. Pimblett views them as part of fighting; Rogan worries that they can cause career-changing injuries. Their conversation reflects a broader tension between allowing effective techniques and protecting fighters from serious harm.
Weight Cuts, Injury and Recovery
Pimblett describes the difficulty of making lightweight, especially the long stretch of dieting before a bout. He says his nutrition and strength coach, Paul Reed, oversees his food and weight-cut plan, and that structured preparation has improved the process. Pimblett says he sometimes gains weight quickly when traveling in the United States, where he enjoys large portions and frequent Coca-Cola refills.
He recounts an especially difficult cut for a Cage Warriors fight at featherweight, when he had only a few weeks to lose a substantial amount of weight. He says the cut left him exhausted during training. He also explains that he has regained weight rapidly after UFC weigh-ins, while noting that his more recent preparations are carefully managed.
Pimblett says his ankle injury after the Jared Gordon bout required multiple surgeries and kept him from training normally for months. He describes being unable to walk properly, spending much of his recovery at home and struggling with depression and online backlash. He says returning to sparring after a long layoff was difficult, and that the experience helped him mature.
MMA’s Evolution and Memorable Fighters
Rogan and Pimblett reflect on how MMA has changed from an era when specialists could succeed with one dominant skill to a sport where elite fighters must be well-rounded. They discuss the growth of the sport around the world and name fighters whose performances or personalities helped expand its audience, including Georges St-Pierre, Conor McGregor, Ronda Rousey and Chuck Liddell.
Their conversation ranges across older fights and fighters, from Pride standouts such as Shogun Rua and Mark Coleman to lightweight greats such as Frankie Edgar. They also discuss how close decisions can alter a fighter’s career, citing bouts involving Dominic Reyes, Jon Jones and Shogun Rua as examples that still prompt debate.
Key Takeaways
- Pimblett sees the UFC lightweight division as exceptionally competitive, with several possible contenders and high-profile matchups ahead.
- His success comes from years of MMA training, careful opponent study and a loyal team at his Liverpool gym.
- Both guests support rules that give fighters more opportunity to work from dominant positions, while disagreeing on how to handle some dangerous techniques.
- Pimblett’s experience with injury, difficult weight cuts and public criticism shaped his approach to training and recovery.
- For Pimblett, Anfield is the ultimate fight venue; Rogan considers Madison Square Garden among the most special.