Paddy Pimblett is aiming to make his return to the UFC in July, targeting the promotion’s annual International Fight Week event.
This year’s showcase is scheduled for 11 July at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, one of the biggest dates on the UFC calendar.
The 31-year-old is currently recovering after his loss to Justin Gaethje in January, but he was present at UFC London on Saturday, supporting team-mate Luke Riley.
During Dana White’s post-event press conference, Pimblett was asked about his preferred timeline for a comeback. The Liverpool fighter responded that he is hoping to compete during International Fight Week.
White welcomed the idea, saying the promotion would be happy to include Pimblett on the card whenever he feels ready to return.
Pimblett’s defeat to Gaethje his first since 2018 and his first inside the UFC ended hopes of a high-profile clash with long-time rival Ilia Topuria.
Gaethje is now set to face Topuria, who is returning as champion, at UFC White House on 14 June in Washington.
Looking ahead, Pimblett has several potential opponents in the lightweight division, with top-10 contenders such as Charles Oliveira, Benoit Saint-Denis and Dan Hooker among the possible matchups for his comeback.
