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how long has paddy pimblett been in the ufc

Paddy “The Baddy” Pimblett has been in the UFC for a bit over 4 years as of January 2026.

Quick Scoop: How long has Paddy Pimblett been in the UFC?

  • Paddy Pimblett made his UFC debut on September 4, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 191 against Luigi Vendramini.
  • That means he has been in the UFC for a little more than 4 years going into early 2026.
  • He won his debut by first-round knockout, immediately grabbing attention with a Performance of the Night bonus.

Mini timeline

  1. September 4, 2021 – UFC debut vs. Luigi Vendramini (win by KO).
  1. 2022–2024 – Keeps winning, stacking finishes and decision wins while climbing the lightweight rankings.
  1. 2025 – Beats former Bellator champ Michael Chandler at UFC 314, further boosting his profile.
  1. January 24, 2026 – Scheduled to fight Justin Gaethje for the interim lightweight title at UFC 324, marking a huge milestone roughly four years after his debut.

Why this feels like a “fast rise”

  • He went from debuting in 2021 to fighting in a UFC interim title bout by early 2026, which is a rapid climb by lightweight standards.
  • His combination of finishes, loud personality, and big-name opponents (like Tony Ferguson and Michael Chandler) has kept him a constant talking point on MMA forums and social media.

Forum and “trending topic” angle

On MMA forums and Reddit, Paddy often swings between being hyped as a future star and criticized as “overrated,” especially after close or controversial fights.

  • Clips, podcasts, and debate threads spike whenever he gets a big win or when a close decision goes his way, feeding the “love him or hate him” narrative.
  • With the interim title fight at UFC 324, discussions about “how long he’s really been tested at the top level” or “whether 4 years in the UFC is enough experience for Gaethje” are a big part of the current conversation.

SEO-style takeaway

  • Main keyword: how long has paddy pimblett been in the ufc – just over 4 years, from September 4, 2021 to early 2026.
  • Related angle: People search this now because he’s heading into an interim title shot, and fans are comparing his relatively short UFC tenure to veterans like Justin Gaethje.

TL;DR: Paddy Pimblett has been in the UFC since September 4, 2021, so by January 2026 he’s a little over four years into his UFC run, already pushing into title-fight territory.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.