Paddy Pimblett silenced his critics in emphatic fashion at UFC 314, delivering the best performance of his career with a dominant finish over former Bellator champion Michael Chandler. Long accused of receiving favorable matchmaking, Pimblett proved he belongs among the elite in the UFC lightweight division. With a seven-fight win streak under the UFC banner and a newly minted top-10 ranking, "The Baddy" is no longer a prospect—he's a legitimate contender. Now, it’s time to test just how high his ceiling really is.
The most compelling next move for Pimblett is a showdown with former UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira. Stylistically thrilling and rankings-relevant, this fight offers both athletes what they want—visibility, relevance, and a pathway back to the title picture.
Oliveira, currently ranked #2 in the division, is coming off a hard-fought win over Chandler and is looking for one more marquee victory to push himself back into title contention. For Pimblett, a win over someone with Oliveira’s résumé would erase any lingering doubts and position him firmly among the elite. It’s a rare high-risk, high-reward fight that makes sense for both men. The UFC could easily slot this as a co-main event on an upcoming pay-per-view, such as UFC 318 or UFC 319, or use it to headline a European Fight Night card.
Stylistically, this would be a fascinating matchup. Pimblett thrives in chaos—he scrambles well, has solid jiu-jitsu, and brings relentless pressure. Against Chandler, he showcased newfound patience and power, mixing striking and ground-and-pound to great effect. Oliveira, on the other hand, remains one of the most dangerous finishers in UFC history, blending vicious Muay Thai with a world-class submission arsenal. While both fighters are aggressive, Oliveira is more polished and technical, whereas Pimblett’s unpredictability can be his greatest asset.
The key to the matchup would lie in how Pimblett deals with the submission threat and whether Oliveira can weather Pimblett’s pace and physicality. One mistake on the ground could end the night early for either fighter. And that’s exactly why this fight would have fans on the edge of their seats.
Paddy Pimblett – Last 5 Fights:
* ✅ Win vs. Michael Chandler – TKO (elbows and punches), UFC 314, April 12, 2025
* ✅ Win vs. King Green – Technical Submission (triangle choke), UFC 304, July 27, 2024
* ✅ Win vs. Tony Ferguson – Decision (unanimous), UFC 296, December 16, 2023
* ✅ Win vs. Jared Gordon – Decision (unanimous), UFC 282, December 10, 2022
* ✅ Win vs. Jordan Leavitt – Submission (rear-naked choke), UFC Fight Night, July 23, 2022
Charles Oliveira – Last 5 Fights:
* ✅ Win vs. Michael Chandler – Decision (unanimous), UFC 309, November 16, 2024
* ❌ Loss vs. Arman Tsarukyan – Decision (split), UFC 300, April 13, 2024
* ✅ Win vs. Beneil Dariush – TKO (punches), UFC 289, June 10, 2023
* ❌ Loss vs. Islam Makhachev – Submission (arm-triangle choke), UFC 280, October 22, 2022
* ✅ Win vs. Justin Gaethje – Submission (rear-naked choke), UFC 274, May 7, 2022
