Paddy Pimblett watched UFC 328 from home and came away with one firm conclusion about where he will not be competing: New Jersey.
Pimblett noticed during the Jim Miller and Jared Gordon bout that UFC 328 was being contested under older MMA rules, specifically the New Jersey State Athletic Commission’s regulations, which ban 12-6 elbows and consider a fighter grounded with just one hand on the canvas.
His reaction was immediate.
“Has he just said, ‘Old rules in play?’ No 12-6 elbows? Wow! That’s ridiculous. I wouldn’t fight there. And if you put your finger on the mat, you basically can’t kick them.”
Pimblett has been one of the more vocal advocates for the 12-6 elbow since it became legal under the updated unified rules in November 2024, incorporating the strike into his game. The New Jersey commission’s refusal to adopt the new ruleset has been a point of contention among fighters and analysts for some time.
Pimblett has not competed since his unanimous decision loss to Justin Gaethje in the interim lightweight title fight at UFC 324 in January. He is expected to return at UFC 329 on July 11 in Las Vegas during International Fight Week, where a fight against Benoit Saint-Denis is reportedly signed, though nothing has been officially confirmed.