Will High-Calorie Diet Of Paddy Pimblett Catch Up With Him?

Paddy Pimblett has become as famous for his post-fight feasts as he is for his knockout performances. But is this cycle of binge and cut sustainable – or is it a ticking time bomb for his health and career?

The Post-Fight Blowout Paddy Pimblett’s Diet

After UFC 314—where Paddy Pimblett dominated Michael Chandler—he documented a jaw-dropping binge. A full day of sweets, bakery indulgences, and takeaway left him weighing 90.95 kg (200 lb), a gain of roughly 44 lb in 24 hours after weighing in at 156 lb. Despite joking about retaining his abs, the visual impact of bloated cheeks and a fuller midsection was unmistakable. He’s even called himself “Paddy the Fatty” on social media—but it’s no joke behind the scenes.

Cutting Fast, Cutting Deep

Paddy’s off-season eating habits contrast heavily with his disciplined fight-camp nutrition. Under ‘The Macro Chef’ Joel McCarthy, he eats around 1,900 calories daily before a fight—lean, protein-heavy meals that help him hit the lightweight limit. Post-fight, however, he reportedly spikes his intake to 8,000 calories per day. This drastic shift makes him a rare case in the UFC: massive post-fight weight gain, followed by a rapid, demanding weight cut.

Age and Rebound: A Risky Trend

Veteran UFC fighter Matt Brown has publicly expressed concern about Paddy’s extreme swings. “It’s not a ton of suffering to not put on f***ing 40 pounds after a fight… Enjoy moderation,” he said on The Fighter vs. The Writer, warning that such fluctuations could eventually impact Paddy’s edge in a division filled with razor-thin margins. Fellow fighter Paul Craig, who has dealt with his own weight-related health issues, echoed the caution. He cited long-term risks including:

Low testosterone
Immune system suppression
Kidney dysfunction

Craig labeled Pimblett’s “binge and shred” pattern a serious concern for career longevity.

Yo-Yo Dieting: Mind and Body Toll

The damage from severe weight cycling isn’t just cosmetic. It can strain key systems and affect both short- and long-term performance.

Among the biggest concerns:

Hormonal disruption
Cardiovascular stress
Kidney burden

Paul Craig described fighters who become mentally exhausted by constant weight anxiety, eventually unable to enjoy even small indulgences due to guilt or performance fear.

Paddy’s Mindset: Strength or Vulnerability?

Some fans admire Paddy’s confidence and flexible attitude. He wins, he indulges, he resets. TalkSport even dubbed him a “phenomenon” for repeatedly cutting back down to a lean fighting weight. Still, there are signs this approach could be catching up to him. He has admitted struggling to rein it in after holidays and vacations. He once compared himself to “Ricky Fatton,” a nickname boxing legend Ricky Hatton earned for his own drastic weight rebounds between bouts.

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So, Will It Catch Up With Him?

In the short term, it hasn’t. Paddy still hits weight and delivers dominant performances. In the long term, however, the warning signs are hard to ignore. Continual calorie cycling and repeated high-stress weight cuts may undermine his health and sharpness over time.

Key Watchpoints:

Durability: Chronic dehydration and rehydration cycles tax organs and cognitive function
Metabolic Health: Swinging between extremes may cause long-term hormonal imbalance
Age: As metabolic flexibility naturally decreases, rebound cycles get harder to manage

Final Take

Paddy’s “eat big, cut hard” lifestyle supports his brand and persona—but it’s a double-edged sword. Youth and strong genetics might carry him through for now. Yet, without adjusting, the lifestyle could turn from an amusing personality trait into a professional liability.

Will it catch up to him? Not today—but perhaps in a few years, especially as the cumulative effects of weight cycling mount.

What He Can Do:

Moderate post-fight indulgences instead of unrestricted binges
Maintain a higher baseline of fitness between camps
Regularly monitor health metrics like testosterone, kidney function, and cardiovascular condition

With small tweaks and a more consistent recovery strategy, Paddy could preserve both his entertaining persona and competitive longevity.