Michael Bisping leaks potential Paddy Pimblett title fight to take place at UFC 334

Bisping's Offhand Remark Reveals Potential Pimblett-Oliveira BMF Fight

UFC commentator and Hall of Famer Michael Bisping may have let slip the promotion's plans for Paddy Pimblett's next outing, suggesting a BMF title fight against current champion Charles Oliveira at UFC 334 on November 14 at Madison Square Garden. Both GIVEMESPORT and Yardbarker report that Bisping, speaking on his YouTube channel, said he had intended to make a video on the potential matchup, inadvertently hinting at the bout.

"Now, I was gonna do a video on Paddy Pimblett potentially versus Charles Oliveira for the BMF belt going down at Madison Square Garden (at UFC 334)," Bisping said, as quoted by both outlets, which noted the comment may have scuppered the UFC's plans for a formal announcement.

Pimblett, 31, last fought at UFC 329 in July, submitting Benoit Saint Denis in under a minute in a dominant lightweight performance, as both outlets report. The victory came after his first UFC loss to Justin Gaethje at UFC 324, per GIVEMESPORT, and earned him Performance of the Night honors, a detail also carried by that outlet.

Historical Context and the Path to a Pimblett-Oliveira Bout

The reported fight would mark Oliveira's first defense of the BMF crown since he defeated Max Holloway in March, as noted by GIVEMESORT. Oliveira's schedule had previously been filled with a rumored bout against Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 331, but those plans were altered after the death of his training partner, Alan Nascimento, according to both GIVEMESORT and Yardbarker.

GIVEMESORT adds that at UFC 330, Pimblett had expected news about his next fight to be announced soon, and potential opponents like Ilia Topuria, Max Holloway, and Oliveira had been floated, as Yardbark also mentioned. The recent success and the BMF title's prominence make this matchup a standout for fight fans.

Purse Withheld Over Octagon Celebration: Bisping's Critique

Separately, Pimblett's UFC 329 purse was withheld by the Nevada State Athletic Commission after he jumped over the Octagon fence during his celebration, with GIVEMESPORT and Yardbark both covering the move, which violates state rules against scaling the cage.

The commission scheduled a disciplinary hearing this week, reported by Yardbark, and also involving Max Holloway and Gable Steveson, according to GIVEMESPORT. Bisping weighed in forcefully, calling the purse withholding an "absolute nonsense," a "dogs*" and "a crime," as GIVEMESPORT recounted, while Yardbark quoted him as saying, "Paddy Pimblett apparently might be having all of his purse withheld."

The hearing's outcome and the potential BMF fight remain unconfirmed by the UFC at the time of writing, with Bisping's video serving as the key trigger for public speculation.