Paddy Pimblett doesn't have his next fight lined up yet, but he knows who he wants to face and when.
Pimblett was last in action in July, when he defeated King Green by first-round submission at UFC 304. The rising lightweight star has since been idle as he awaits his next opponent, but that doesn't mean the 29-year-old isn't ready to jump back into the Octagon.
Speaking to OLBG, Pimblett explained that he's been intentionally biding his time while staying fight-ready.
"I'm just waiting," Pimblett said. "I'm just ticking over for now. I'm just in the gym every day, just working on myself, getting me better.
"I feel like I look better in fights when I don't rush into the next one and I have a couple of months to get better, training every day in the gym. And that's what I'm doing at the minute."
Pimblett prefers to return to action in spring 2025, ahead of his twin daughters' first birthday on April 17. As for who he wants to fight upon his return, he named Renato Moicano as his preferred opponent.
"He's ranked 11 or something like that [in the UFC lightweight rankings]," Pimblett said. "He's a good opponent, he's mentioned me, I've mentioned him. There's only a few ranks between us. He's ranked 11 and I'm 14. So, yeah, let's see.”
As for what could come after a bout with Moicano, Pimblett sees a short run-up to a shot at the UFC lightweight world title, especially if current champion Islam Makhachev continues to defend the belt.
“If I knock [Moicano] out, it's one or two more fights and you've got a title shot," he said. "It's even easier to get a title shot if Islam's still the champ because he will have beaten everyone anyway.
"He's beat Charles [Oliveira], he's beat Dustin [Poirier]. If he beats Arman [Tsarukyan], he's beat Arman. And then who else is there?
"[Justin] Gathje, but Gathje's been knocked out by [Max] Holloway. If I knock Moicano out and then fight like a Charles Olivera or a Dustin Poirier, I'm getting a title shot.”
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