Nov 11, 2026 · 2h 57m
Paddy Pimblett weighs ambition against MMA’s brutal tradeoffs
JRE MMA Show #188 with Paddy Pimblett
Pimblett’s Liverpool ambitions sit alongside a candid examination of weight cuts, injuries, judging, fouls, and the risks shaping modern MMA.
- 1Pimblett sees Liverpool’s Anfield as the ideal stage for a UFC homecoming while navigating an increasingly crowded lightweight division.
- 2The conversation treats weight cutting, disputed decisions, and officiating as career-shaping forces rather than background details.
- 3Pimblett’s injuries and rehabilitation sharpen the debate over fighter safety, legal techniques, and the sport’s appetite for damage.
Don't miss
Pimblett recounts cutting roughly 21 kilograms in under four weeks for a Cage Warriors fight, revealing the extreme physical cost behind making weight.
The brief
Paddy Pimblett joins Joe Rogan with Liverpool ambitions, including a UFC event at Anfield, but the conversation quickly turns to the demands behind that dream.
They map a crowded lightweight division around Ilia Topuria, Charles Oliveira, Arman Tsarukyan, and Pimblett’s own improvised pad-tie submission of Benoît Saint Denis.
Pimblett’s account of a brutal 21-kilogram cut and his long ankle rehabilitation gives weight to their wider concerns about endurance, judging, and fighter safety.
Rogan and Pimblett challenge MMA’s current rules, questioning stand-ups, fouls, grounded opponents, and whether spectacle has overtaken sustained control.
The standout tension is between Pimblett’s vision of a Liverpool stadium homecoming and the accumulated physical costs that make such a moment possible.
By the farewell, the episode has become less a fight preview than a portrait of how ambition, loyalty, rivalry, and damage shape a fighter’s path.
What was said on this episode
135 statements · 70 positive · 57 negative · 1 mixed · 7 neutral
Joe Rogan says American food is harmful despite tasting good.
“our food is poison”
Listen at 2:45
Joe Rogan says processed food ingredients encourage addictive eating and harm health.
“It's just filled with sugar and preservatives and all kinds of shit that keeps you eating it. It makes you addicted to it, but it's not good for you.”
Listen at 2:48
Paddy Pimblett is certain he will fight at Madison Square Garden.
“I'm going to fight there one million percent.”
Listen at 7:48
Paddy Pimblett identifies Anfield as his preferred fight venue.
“Anfield. Oh, yeah. Liverpool Stadium.”
Listen at 8:01
Paddy Pimblett says Pimblett–Topuria is among UFC's biggest possible fights.
“it's probably one of the biggest fights the UFC can make”
Listen at 11:57
Paddy Pimblett says his submission was the fastest in UFC history.
“It's the fastest.”
Listen at 13:42
Paddy Pimblett says modern MMA fighters must be well-rounded to avoid defeat.
“Now you can't. You have to be well-rounded or you will get beat.”
Listen at 19:39
Paddy Pimblett says range attacks neutralized Bobby Green effectively.
“Teeps, calf kicks, head kicks, keep him on the end of your range. And it worked perfect.”
Listen at 24:08
Paddy Pimblett rates Cage Warriors as Europe's best MMA promotion.
“Cage Warriors, as I always say, is the best show in Europe by a mile.”
Listen at 26:39
Joe Rogan says Cage Warriors' top fighters possess UFC-level skill.
“The level of the top guys is UFC level.”
Listen at 27:16
Paddy Pimblett says 80% of Cage Warriors-to-UFC fighters remain signed.
“most of them, 80% of them, stay signed to keep fighting.”
Listen at 28:23
Paddy Pimblett says Ilia Topuria used his profile to build recognition.
“Ilya used my profile to get himself bigger.”
Listen at 32:07
Paddy Pimblett says Topuria's rise was accelerated by invoking Pimblett's name.
“I don't think he would have been built up that fast if he didn't use my name for clout.”
Listen at 35:12
Paddy Pimblett assesses Ilia Topuria as an elite fighter.
“He is. He's elite. His skill set is brilliant.”
Listen at 35:31
Paddy Pimblett says Spanish fans are turning against Ilia Topuria.
“I've heard everyone in Spain is turning on him anyway.”
Listen at 36:16
Paddy Pimblett predicts Topuria would lose all fans after another defeat.
“He won't have any fans left.”
Listen at 36:50
Paddy Pimblett says his unusual style makes him difficult to prepare for.
“You can't really train to fight me because I'm so strange.”
Listen at 37:29
Joe Rogan says Michael Chandler should remain active rather than take two years off.
“You must stay active. You're elite and you're 37 years old. You can't take two years off.”
Listen at 45:58
Paddy Pimblett recommends sparring to develop timing and effective striking.
“I feel like I need to spar to make sure I get my timing down and then I can actually hit people.”
Listen at 48:18
Paddy Pimblett recommends introducing Pride-style rules in the UFC.
“I think we should have some pride rules in the UFC.”
Listen at 49:50
Paddy Pimblett recommends legalizing grounded knees and soccer kicks but banning stomps.
“I just think it should be legal. Knees to the head and soccer kicks, but not stomps.”
Listen at 51:11
Paddy Pimblett supports continuous rounds until a fighter finishes the opponent.
“I'd love to just keep fighting. Keep round, round, round until someone finishes someone. I think that would be sick.”
Listen at 54:58
Paddy Pimblett recommends making all MMA rounds equal in duration.
“I think all the rounds need to be the same length.”
Listen at 55:23
Paddy Pimblett says referees should not stand up fighters controlling an opponent's back.
“If someone's got a body triangle and someone's back, you can't be standing them up.”
Listen at 56:03
Joe Rogan says José Aldo remained elite after moving to bantamweight.
“when he got down to 35, they realized, well, he's an elite at 35 still.”
Listen at 1:00:24
Joe Rogan attributes Frankie Edgar's durability to not cutting weight.
“But I think that's why he was so durable, too.”
Listen at 1:00:49
Paddy Pimblett says Frankie Edgar had exceptional conditioning for five-round fights.
“he had some of the best conditioning as well. Conditioning was insane. He could do five rounds easily.”
Listen at 1:00:52
Joe Rogan says Courtney Dauwalter defeated male competitors in ultramarathons.
“if you're like, remember Courtney, Courtney Dowalter? Courtney Dowalter, who is a, she does these ultra marathons. She beat all the men.”
Listen at 1:03:35
Joe Rogan advises against David Goggins-style daily breakdown training before a fight.
“Goggins is going to break you every day. I don't know if you should be broken every day and then have a fight.”
Listen at 1:05:33
Paddy Pimblett says fatigue from intense training is undesirable before fighting.
“You don't want that going into a fight.”
Listen at 1:05:45
Paddy Pimblett says he could not safely complete two weight cuts within six weeks.
“Doing two weight cuts in six weeks. I couldn't do two weight cuts in six weeks.”
Listen at 1:06:41
Joe Rogan says hot baths are better than saunas for weight cutting.
“If you have a bath. That's better.”
Listen at 1:07:44
Joe Rogan says hot Epsom-salt baths are among the best magnesium absorption methods.
“It's one of the best ways your body absorbs magnesium.”
Listen at 1:07:58
Paddy Pimblett says he can lose 14–15 pounds in a hot bath.
“I can do easily for like 14, 15 pounds in a bath.”
Listen at 1:08:10
Paddy Pimblett says he lost 8.4 kilograms overnight during a weight cut.
“that one I cut 8.4 kilo overnight, which is 17, 18 pound.”
Listen at 1:10:22
Paddy Pimblett says newer judging criteria would have awarded Rosa their fight.
“I think if it was the new judging criteria, I think I would have lost that fight.”
Listen at 1:10:50
Joe Rogan believes Dominic Reyes defeated Jon Jones.
“I think he won that fight.”
Listen at 1:12:38
Paddy Pimblett says the Reyes–Jones decision altered Dominic Reyes's career.
“It literally altered his career.”
Listen at 1:12:49
Joe Rogan says Yoel Romero would threaten 80% of the UFC middleweight roster.
“he's a fucking nightmare for 80% of the roster at 185 pounds.”
Listen at 1:14:35
Wrestling Bo Nickel could cause Rafael Fiziev to suffer a knee injury.
“there is a real possibility that you could blow a knee out. 100%.”
Listen at 1:15:16
Harmon is wealthy enough not to fight yet remains world-class.
“He's wealthy as fuck right now. Does not have to fight for the rest of his life and still is world class.”
Listen at 1:16:27
Training with Volkanovski substantially improved Hufi.
“Hufi's got so much better since he started training with Volkanovski.”
Listen at 1:16:46
Rufy needs extensive grappling improvement to reach top lightweight fighters.
“His grappling was at a level that it's going to take an incredible amount of work to get to the top guys”
Listen at 1:17:51
Jon Jones can quickly take Ciryl Gane down and submit him.
“John Jones takes Cyril gone down like that, submits him first round.”
Listen at 1:19:17
Ciryl Gane is among the heavyweight division’s most difficult opponents.
“I think Cyril Gaunt is one of the biggest puzzles in the heavyweight division.”
Listen at 1:21:46
Josh Hawkins winning would harm the sport.
“I think it's bad for the sport if Josh Hawkins wins.”
Listen at 1:21:50
Movsar Evloev is an elite fighter.
“Evloev is a fucking elite fighter, man.”
Listen at 1:23:30
The UFC should not cut a fighter before he loses.
“But until he loses, cutting someone I think is crazy.”
Listen at 1:24:38
Firas Zahabi used chaotic sparring to prepare Georges St-Pierre.
“He wanted him to be very comfortable with wild chaos.”
Listen at 1:26:31
Large gyms provide many sparring partners and varied styles.
“the pros of a giant gym is you have unlimited sparring partners. You've got so many different styles.”
Listen at 1:27:12
Paddy Pimblett will not fight teammate George Staines.
“I'm never going to fight him.”
Listen at 1:28:08
Paddy Pimblett believes teammates fighting each other is wrong.
“I think it's wrong, personally.”
Listen at 1:30:38
Khabib’s gym produces many elite fighters because of its disciplined culture.
“it's not a coincidence that so many elite guys are coming out of that gym.”
Listen at 1:32:37
Usman Nurmagomedov is capable of competing at world-championship level.
“this guy's world championship caliber.”
Listen at 1:33:22
Charles Oliveira will likely dominate Diego Lopes similarly to Max Holloway.
“I think Charles is probably going to do the same thing as what he's done to Max.”
Listen at 1:34:02
Diego Lopes is highly capable in ground fighting.
“Diego's really good on the ground.”
Listen at 1:34:08
Max Holloway likely has few fights remaining, with Conor McGregor being highly lucrative.
“He probably only has a few more left in him, and the Conor one is obviously a huge money fight.”
Listen at 1:34:53
Prime Conor McGregor would have beaten any opponent during the Eddie Alvarez performance.
“I think he would have beat anyone that night.”
Listen at 1:37:17
Floyd Mayweather fighting Ryan Garcia at age 50 is an unreasonable matchup.
“I think that's crazy. He's 50 years old.”
Listen at 1:37:59
Jiu-jitsu has effectively unlimited evolving techniques.
“jujitsu is, it's infinite. And there's always new moves.”
Listen at 1:40:26
Strikes during grappling force opponents to move realistically.
“when you've got a glove on and you're punching someone in the fucking face, they're going to move.”
Listen at 1:41:20
Some jiu-jitsu leg-lock positions are unrealistic without accounting for strikes.
“there's certain things that are just not realistic.”
Listen at 1:41:29
Paddy Pimblett would respond to a fight heel hook by striking rather than tapping.
“If someone tries to heel hook me in a fight, I'm not going to tap. I'm just going to punch them in the face repeatedly.”
Listen at 1:41:43
The Freeman family became the first father-daughter Cage Warriors champions.
“First ever father-daughter to be Cage Warriors champion.”
Listen at 1:42:19
Kayla Harrison is too large for 135 pounds and faces an extreme weight cut.
“She really shouldn't be fighting at 135. She's so big. Kayla's so strong. And she has to kill herself to get to 35.”
Listen at 1:43:23
Amanda Nunes has a significant striking advantage over Kayla Harrison.
“on the stand-up, Amanda has such an advantage.”
Listen at 1:45:02
Luke’s punching power is attributed primarily to his timing.
“I think it's just because of his timing.”
Listen at 1:47:26
Luke’s accuracy, timing, and precision make him an effective puncher.
“Timing's everything. Like, he's accurate, he's timing, and he's precise.”
Listen at 1:47:41
Paddy Pimblett required three ankle surgeries after the Jared Gordon fight.
“My ankle, I ended up getting inner ligament reconstruction, outer ligament reconstruction, and something done to the LCL. I had three surgeries.”
Listen at 1:50:40
Paddy Pimblett experienced severe depression during ankle rehabilitation.
“I got terribly depressed after that one.”
Listen at 1:51:10
Ankle ligament or joint injuries are difficult to rehabilitate.
“ankles are really tricky. It's a tricky ligament or a tricky joint.”
Listen at 1:52:50
Eye pokes should incur an immediate point deduction and second offense disqualification.
“I think there should be a non-negotiable one-point deduction. On a second eye poke, you're disqualified.”
Listen at 1:57:16
Intentional eye-poke offenders should be barred from the organization.
“you should not be fighting anymore in that organization.”
Listen at 1:58:19
Eye pokes can cause blindness.
“Because he could blind you.”
Listen at 2:00:00
Exerting maximum effort in round two can prevent recovery for round three.
“if you hit the gas full blast in that second round, you're not going to recover from third.”
Listen at 2:03:26
Fighters should pace themselves rather than fully exhaust their energy.
“You really never empty the gas tank, right? You always have to be measured in how much you put out.”
Listen at 2:03:36
Ilia Topuria is too small for the lightweight division.
“I just think he's too small for 55.”
Listen at 2:05:43
Vegan diets are unwise for MMA competitors; they should at least eat eggs.
“I just don't think that's wise. At the very least, you should be eating eggs.”
Listen at 2:08:21
MMA should use a giant open field with a red boundary instead of a cage.
“MMA should be fought on a giant field and with no cages, and you should fight with a red line around it, no cage.”
Listen at 2:16:58
NFL players dislike artificial turf because it harms their knees.
“The players hate it. It fucks up their knees.”
Listen at 2:17:22
Conor McGregor changed MMA’s competitive and cultural landscape.
“he changed the game”
Listen at 2:23:08
Conor McGregor helped make MMA mainstream.
“Without him, we wouldn't be as mainstream as we are right now.”
Listen at 2:23:12
Conor McGregor permanently changed MMA.
“He changed our sport forever.”
Listen at 2:23:15
Ronda Rousey significantly raised MMA’s profile.
“Ronda Rousey was a big one.”
Listen at 2:23:23
Chuck Liddell was the first major figure to raise MMA’s profile.
“Chuck Liddell was the first. Raised the profile of the sport.”
Listen at 2:23:31
Conor McGregor achieved unusually broad public recognition.
“Everybody knew who Conor McGregor was.”
Listen at 2:23:50
Texas’s THC-product ban may cost it the election.
“Texas fucked up. They passed some crazy laws banning THC products, and it's probably costing them the election.”
Listen at 2:26:04
Texas’s restrictive cannabis policy cost it the election.
“Texas is ass backwards when it comes to weed, and it cost them the election.”
Listen at 2:26:27
Ciryl Gane presents a uniquely difficult challenge to opponents.
“Gon is a very unique challenge.”
Listen at 2:26:59
Alexander Volkov deserves a title opportunity.
“Volkov deserves his chance of fighting for the belt.”
Listen at 2:27:14
Paddy Pimblett wants Alexander Volkov to defeat Ciryl Gane.
“I want Volkov to beat Siligan.”
Listen at 2:27:17
Basketball experience may develop movement useful for heavyweight MMA fighters.
“I think there's something about being good at basketball”
Listen at 2:27:43
Johnny Walker should have competed at heavyweight throughout his career.
“I think Johnny Walker should have been heavyweight the entire time.”
Listen at 2:28:13
Johnny Walker’s heavyweight athleticism will surprise many opponents.
“his athleticism at 265 is going to fool a lot of people.”
Listen at 2:28:19
Ciryl Gane has highly technical striking and elite athleticism.
“his striking is super technical. And he's one of the best athletes in the sport.”
Listen at 2:28:55
Standing with Ciryl Gane is dangerous because of his exceptional striking.
“If he tries to stand with Gon, the level of Gon striking is fucking ridiculous.”
Listen at 2:29:23
The unnamed heavyweight could easily cut to 205 pounds.
“Oh, he could make 205 easily.”
Listen at 2:30:03
Being light and fast benefits heavyweight fighters.
“there's a benefit to being a light, fast guy at heavyweight.”
Listen at 2:30:18
Yursi Bulgari poses a serious challenge to opponents.
“he's a real problem.”
Listen at 2:32:19
Yursi Bulgari’s height and striking overwhelmed Abdul Malik.
“Yursi is just too tall and too good at striking”
Listen at 2:33:27
Yursi Bulgari is exceptionally effective as a striker.
“He's just too good as a striker.”
Listen at 2:34:53
Extreme toughness can become harmful to a fighter’s wellbeing.
“there's some times when you cross the threshold of you're too tough for your own good.”
Listen at 2:35:18
Broken orbital bones can impair a fighter’s vision.
“broken orbital bones and things along those lines, he couldn't see.”
Listen at 2:36:04
Michael Bisping lost vision in one eye during his career.
“he lost vision in one eye.”
Listen at 2:36:13
Losing vision in an eye is a serious undesirable outcome for fighters.
“you don't want... to lose a vision in an eye.”
Listen at 2:36:37
A further strike could permanently blind the injured eye.
“that eye goes blind, which is completely possible.”
Listen at 2:36:46
Paddy Pimblett says he will continue fighting until unconscious or incapacitated.
“I'm going to keep going here until every last breath in my body is gone, until I'm unconscious or I do not stop.”
Listen at 2:37:12
Joe Rogan proposes a UFC format with one 30-minute round.
“What if the UFC had a 30-minute time limit fight with one round?”
Listen at 2:37:36
UFC fights should mark a red-line zone near the cage for technique restrictions.
“They should have like a red line.”
Listen at 2:37:57
Paddy Pimblett supports the proposed alternative UFC rules.
“I'd be fully game for that.”
Listen at 2:38:08
Repeated takedowns should not be celebrated when they reflect inadequate control.
“I don't think that's something that should be celebrated because it shows that your control's not good enough to keep him down.”
Listen at 2:38:41
Effective grappling should require roughly one controlled takedown per round.
“I don't want to have to make more than five takedowns, one in each round, and control them.”
Listen at 2:39:21
Merab Dvalishvili’s aggressive takedown pace harmed his performance against Jan.
“I think that fucked him up in that third fight with Jan.”
Listen at 2:39:48
Jan is among MMA’s best strikers.
“I think he's one of the best strikers in the whole of MMA.”
Listen at 2:40:08
Four fights in one year can seriously harm a fighter physically.
“Four-way cuts in one year fucks your shit up.”
Listen at 2:41:05
Paul Reed transformed weight-cutting practices for Pimblett’s team.
“Without him, we'd still be in the dark ages when it comes to making weight. He changed everything on how we make weight.”
Listen at 2:44:55
Paddy Pimblett gained approximately four to six kilograms of muscle mass.
“I'd put, like, four, six kilo, I think it was, of muscle mass on.”
Listen at 2:45:45
Pimblett’s camp switched his diet toward fewer proteins and more carbohydrates.
“Less protein, more carbs.”
Listen at 2:46:14
Morales weighs 226 pounds while competing at welterweight.
“He's making 170, he's weighing 226.”
Listen at 2:47:27
Carlos Prates fought more than 100 times in Thailand over several years.
“he fought over a hundred times in thailand while he lived there”
Listen at 2:50:35
Thai fighters generally need to fight frequently to earn money.
“he's like the only way you get money is if you fight”
Listen at 2:50:52
Ian Machado Garry’s oblique kick injured Shavkat Rakhmonov’s knee.
“Ian Gary hit him with that oblique kick to the knee and fucked his knee up, man.”
Listen at 2:51:29
Oblique kicks to the knee should remain legal in MMA.
“I don't think it should be, though.”
Listen at 2:51:36
Oblique kicks to the knee will be banned in MMA.
“it's going to be made illegal.”
Listen at 2:51:42
Oblique kicks to the knee should not be banned.
“I don't think that should be made illegal.”
Listen at 2:51:43
Oblique kicks can end careers or permanently alter fighters’ careers.
“the problem is it ends careers. It can change your career forever.”
Listen at 2:51:53
12-to-6 elbows should never have been illegal in MMA.
“I don't think 12-6 elbows ever should have been illegal.”
Listen at 2:52:42
Jon Jones should have an undefeated professional record.
“Jon Jones should be undefeated.”
Listen at 2:52:59
Dominick Reyes defeated Jon Jones in their fight.
“I think Dominic got him.”
Listen at 2:53:04
Dominick Reyes won the first three rounds, while Jon Jones won the championship rounds.
“The first three, I thought Reyes won the first three, and then the championship rounds, Jones took.”
Listen at 2:53:13
The Shogun–Machida decision was among the worst Pimblett watched live.
“the worst decision I think I've ever watched live, though, was Shogun Machida.”
Listen at 2:53:29
The Shogun–Machida decision was bad.
“That was a bad decision, you're right.”
Listen at 2:53:41
Mauricio Rua is one of the greatest fighters.
“he's one of the greatest.”
Listen at 2:54:03
Paddy Pimblett has accomplished much and has substantial career potential remaining.
“You've done a lot already, and you've got a lot more to go”
Listen at 2:56:32
The UFC lightweight division is currently highly disorganized and congested.
“the lightweight division, because it is in a bit of a clusterfuck at the minute.”
Listen at 2:56:53
Statements are attributed to the speaker as said on the episode and reflect their view at the time, not PodLume's. They are not advice.
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