Matt Brown praises Paddy Pimblett after he ‘stole the f*cking show’ at UFC 329 but still not sold on him as championship material

Paddy Pimblett delivered a statement performance at UFC 329, submitting Ottman Azaitar with a modified D'Arce choke in rapid fashion and stealing the spotlight from Conor McGregor's injury-plagued return in the main event. The lightweight's explosive showing—complete with a charismatic walkout and celebration—elevated his profile from popular prospect to potential superstar, with massive viewership lending weight to the moment.

UFC legend Matt Brown praised Pimblett's execution and attitude, telling The Fighter vs. The Writer podcast that "Paddy stole the show. 100%." Brown drew parallels to McGregor's early UFC trajectory, noting how both fighters dominated their respective stage moments and captured crowd energy in ways that transcended their opponents. "It felt like it was passing of the torch," Brown said, highlighting the similarities in star power and marketing appeal.

However, Brown tempered his enthusiasm with significant reservations about Pimblett's championship ceiling. Unlike McGregor, who proved his worth by dethroning Jose Aldo and later capturing a second title, Pimblett faces a far steeper climb. He suffered a loss to current lightweight champion Justin Gaethje in January's interim title fight—a setback that complicates any path back to gold. Potential opponents include Ilia Topuria, Arman Tsarukyan, and Charles Oliveira, all of whom present elite-level challenges.

"Skill wise, I'm still just not sold on Paddy yet," Brown admitted, cautioning against overestimating Pimblett's ceiling despite his undeniable charisma and technical improvements. Brown acknowledged his own initial skepticism toward McGregor but suggested Pimblett's documented loss to a top fighter—and the current strength of the lightweight division—leaves less room for mystique. While Pimblett may achieve great things and prove doubters wrong, Brown questioned whether he possesses the rare two-division championship pedigree that defined McGregor's legacy.