Lightweight prospect Paddy Pimblett may not return to the Octagon for some time.

"The Baddy" most recently competed at UFC 282, where he won a contentious decision against Jared Gordon. While many thought Gordon had done enough to be proclaimed the winner, Pimblett confidently claimed he'd controlled the battle, which turned off many supporters.

Pimblett's next steps in the UFC have remained unknown in the months after his previous fight, despite being undefeated in the Octagon. During his bout with Gordon, the former Cage Warriors champion suffered an ankle injury.

"I had to get surgery after my last fight," Pimblett explained. "Last fight, I hurt my foot in the first round, in like the first minute or two, threw a kick, hurt it. I felt it, like, but we crack on, we get through the fight. At the end of the fight, I remember going back to the medical room and being like, 'My foot's sore.'

Couldn't get it looked at properly until I got home. Then, when the actual swelling went down, I didn't know if I needed to get surgery. It was a lot worse than we thought. I had to get inner and outer-ligament surgery, like reconstruction, so, it's big."

'The Baddy' was then asked how long he expected to be on crutches. He said he'll be out for another six weeks or so. Worse, he doesn't appear certain that he'll be able to enter the Octagon this year.

"Could be another six weeks," Pimblett said. "I've already been on them for six, six and a half... I'll be lucky to fight this year."