Paddy Pimblett stays upbeat after scratched cornea injury in UFC 324 loss, eyes future rematch with Justin Gaethje

Paddy Pimblett is keeping a positive mindset after his defeat to Justin Gaethje at UFC 324. The Liverpool fighter lost the interim lightweight title fight in Las Vegas. Despite the result, Pimblett has shown no signs of frustration or regret. Instead, he has chosen to laugh at the situation and focus on what comes next in his UFC journey.The 31-year-old suffered visible facial injuries during the fight at the T-Mobile Arena. This was ironic, as Pimblett had promised before the bout that he would leave Gaethje looking damaged. In the days after the contest, the bruises told a different story. Still, Pimblett says the injuries are fading fast, and his confidence remains strong.In a recent video shared on his YouTube channel, Paddy Pimblett joked about the aftermath of the fight. He admitted that his pre-fight comments backfired slightly. He explained that while he had hoped to change Justin Gaethje’s appearance, it was his own face that looked worse for a short time. Pimblett said his eyes were badly swollen and bruised, and photos shared online made it look even more dramatic. He added that some fans thought those pictures were taken days later, but they were actually from the very next day, when the damage was at its peak.Pimblett also spoke about possible injuries. He said that a week later, he feels fine overall. The only issue he mentioned was a possible scratched cornea. This lines up with fight footage that showed him being poked in the eye more than once. One of those moments led directly to a knockdown by Gaethje.Despite the punishment, Pimblett has no intention of resting for long. UFC 324 was his first loss inside the promotion, but his performance earned praise from many fans and UFC president Dana White.Looking ahead, Pimblett made it clear that he wants another fight with Gaethje. He said he hopes Gaethje goes on to win the undisputed lightweight title from Ilia Topuria. Pimblett added that if Gaethje does not retire soon, he would love the chance to face him again. He said certain moments from their first fight still annoy him and make him want to prove himself in a rematch.Gaethje, now the interim champion, is expected to face Ilia Topuria next. However, with the champion currently on a break, Gaethje has hinted he may take another fight if the title bout is delayed.