Ronda Rousey Confirms Paddy Pimblett Is Her Favourite UFC Fighter – A Defining Moment For UFC 324
Paddy Pimblett has spent the entire week living in one of the strangest spaces a UFC fighter can occupy. He is part prizefighter, part pop culture character, and part lightning rod for debate. UFC 324 represents more than another appearance on a major card. It is the kind of moment that decides whether he is a genuine superstar or simply a loud fan favorite who has finally reached his ceiling.
With a high-stakes matchup looming, the expectation would be tunnel vision and total focus. Instead, Pimblett has found himself reacting to praise from one of the most influential figures the sport has ever produced. Ronda Rousey, the original UFC crossover icon, publicly singled him out as her current favorite fighter, even sending him flowers during fight week.
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Why Ronda Rousey’s Praise Matters For Paddy Pimblett
The gesture was not just celebrity attention or empty hype. Rousey’s admiration centered on what Pimblett represents as both a fighter and an entertainer, a combination she helped pioneer during her own rise. When asked about it at the UFC 324 media day, Pimblett did not downplay the moment or brush it off.
“Yeah, she’s one of the biggest MMA superstars of all time. And the biggest female superstar. So to have them sort of applaud off someone like that is always a great feeling to hear and see,” Pimblett said.
The comment mattered because it touched the core of the debate surrounding him. To some fans, Pimblett is a gimmick, a personality pushed aggressively by the UFC. To others, he is proof that charisma still matters in a sport that increasingly rewards numbers, rankings, and algorithms.
Rousey has been clear about where she stands. Speaking at Comic Con late last year, she explained that many fighters fail to realize they are entertainers as well as athletes, and that understanding the difference is what creates stars.
“I think a lot of the fighters don’t realize that they’re also entertainers. The one person I think who really realizes that is Paddy Pimblett. And so I really appreciate that,” she said.
For Pimblett, the validation comes from someone who lived that reality before anyone else. Rousey turned UFC fighters into mainstream celebrities long before social media made it easier, and her endorsement reinforces why Pimblett continues to draw attention regardless of opinion.
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