How Paddy Pimblett rebounded from loss to Justin Gaethje ahead of fight with Benoit Saint-Denis

LAS VEGAS — Paddy “The Baddy” Pimblett was about to take the final step in his meteoric rise — then Justin Gaethje happened.Pimblett arrived at UFC 324 – the inaugural UFC on Paramount+ card – as a favorite against the veteran Gaethje with a potential title shot on the horizon if he had won.His charismatic personality and flare for the dramatics in the octagon — collecting finishes and performance bonuses — made him an instant fan favorite.Gaethje, now the lightweight champion after a shock upset win over Ilia Topuria, defeated Pimblett in January by unanimous decision, knocking the Englishman down twice and inflicting more damage on him than he had suffered in his career to date.“I can’t start demanding title fights,” Pimblett, who is fighting Benoit Saint-Denis in the co-main event on Saturday night at UFC 329 here, told The Post.

“I’m not even on a win streak.Once I beat BSD, I’ll be on a one–fight– it’s not even a streak– it’s just a win.

I didn’t even ask for a title fight when I got the Gaethje fight.”Saint-Denis, a former member of the French Army Special Forces, profiles as one of the toughest matches for Pimblett at lightweight — and is going into the bout fearless.Though Pimblett views his opponent as a less dangerous version of Gaethje.“I’ve fought people like him,” Pimblett said.“We’ve done a lot of specific stuff, obviously, for the type of grappling he does.

We’ll be ready for him… He’s a not-as-good version of Justin Gaethje on the feet.”Though the 31-year-old Pimblett said he still has the edge in grappling.“People talk about his grappling… even [Renato] Moicano absolutely schooled him on the ground.Moicano busted him up bad and schooled him on the floor,” Pimblett said.Pimblett said he expected the fight, which is the co-main event for Conor McGregor’s return against Max Holloway, to be a five-round fight.

He added that he signs whatever the UFC puts in front of him and t...