Luke Riley is aiming to share the spotlight with teammate Paddy Pimblett at this summer’s International Fight Week in Las Vegas following his biggest win to date at UFC London.
Riley (13-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) earned a unanimous decision victory over Michael Aswell Jr. in the co-main event on Saturday night, continuing his rise in the promotion. But immediately after the fight, the former Cage Warriors star made it clear he already has his sights set on what comes next, and who he wants alongside him.
“Get me on a card with Paddy in July,” Riley said in his post-fight interview with TNT Sports. “International Fight Week…definitely. Me and Paddy in Vegas…we’ve been saying it for how long? We’ve been saying that for a long, long time. Me and Paddy on the same card. International Fight Week would be unbelievable.”
Riley’s comments came shortly before UFC President Dana White addressed Pimblett’s (23-4 MMA, 7-1 UFC) future during the UFC London post-fight press conference. When asked about Pimblett’s return following his loss to Justin Gaethje in a lightweight interim title fight at UFC 324 in January, White turned the question directly to the fighter.
“When are you gonna fight again?” White asked.
“International Fight Week,” Pimblett responded.
“All right, there you go,” White said. “Whenever he wants to fight, we’d love to have him back.”
The timing could align perfectly for both fighters, who train together and have frequently spoken about competing on the same card. International Fight Week, one of the UFC’s marquee annual events, would provide a high-profile stage in Las Vegas for the duo to finally make that idea a reality.
With Riley building momentum and Pimblett looking to rebound after his recent defeat, a shared appearance in July could be a significant moment for both fighters and a showcase opportunity for one of the UFC’s most talked-about training partnerships.
