Paddy Pimblett’s Dramatic Weight Loss Leads to UFC 314 Victory

LIVERPOOL, England — Paddy Pimblett dropped nearly three stone before his victory against Michael Chandler at UFC 314 last month. The 30-year-old delivered an impressive performance, stopping the experienced UFC veteran in the lightweight bout.

In the weeks leading up to UFC 314, Pimblett revealed he lost 40 pounds, or 2st 12lb, to make the lightweight limit of 156 pounds (11st 2lb). Just seven weeks before the fight, he weighed 190 pounds and began a rigorous training program combined with a strict diet.

“I’ve been heavier to start with. I’ve been eating 2,000 calories a day,” Pimblett shared. After a week of training, he expressed frustration over his slow progress, stating his weight was “doing his head in” as he had only shed three pounds.

By fight week in Miami, he had managed to lower his weight to 175 pounds (12st 7lb) and further down to 170 pounds (12st 2lb) just two days prior to the weigh-in. All UFC fighters weigh in on the morning of the day before fight night, followed by a ceremonial weigh-in.

During his final weight cut, Pimblett dropped 13 pounds and weighed in at 157 pounds (11st 3lb) the night before his fight. “That was one of my easiest weight cuts,” he remarked.

The UFC suggests that fighters can safely cut between 8% and 10% of their body weight before weigh-ins. Although Pimblett was above that recommendation, he indicated that hitting 170 pounds in fight week was his target for a smooth weight cut.

Pimblett’s win against Chandler extended his unbeaten streak in the UFC to seven, bringing his overall record to 23 wins with just three losses.