It's easy to pile on the pounds over the Christmas period with all the food thrust in front of us, but fans don't understand how Paddy the Baddy's weight transformation is 'humanly possible'.
Just over two weeks after his last fight, the lightweight champ looks completely unrecognisable from his appearance at UFC 296 in Las Vegas on 16 December when he triumphed over Tony Ferguson.
He bagged the 21st win of his 24-fight career and debuted a new braided hair style after staying on the sidelines for the majority of the year due to an ankle injury, which he underwent surgery for back in March.
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The Liverpudlian - real name Paddy Pimblett - has been prioritising his health and fitness ahead of the clash with Ferguson but has now relaxed his strict regime and people have noticed he looks a bit different.
Paddy, who weighed in at 155lbs in Vegas, told his supporters he had been 'dreaming about that post fight In-N-Out Burger for weeks' and shared a clip of him ordering a load of snacks during a trip to the fast food giant.
Last year, he told Steve-O that he thinks he has a 'bit of an eating disorder' because of his sporting career, even though he would rather 'be fat and happy than ripped'.
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Paddy said: "The weight cuts, dieting, I genuinely think I have a bit of an eating disorder. People when they go eat with me they are visibly shocked at how much I can eat."
But fans were still shocked by the star's appearance in a series of photos her uploaded to Instagram showing him celebrating New Year's Eve on holiday in Tenerife with his loved ones, including his wife Laura Gregory, who is currently pregnant with twins, and close pal and fellow fighter Molly McCann.
Paddy had ditched the braids and looked very different in the snaps, although he had a huge grin in every single one of them.
He captioned the post: "Happy new year from me and mine everyone. Hope yous all had a beltar festive season and have an even better 2024, lots of love the Pimbletts."
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Paddy looking noticeably different was obviously the main topic of conversation in the comment section, with some social media users even joking he might be vying for a clash with Conor McGregor and could be trying to move up weight class.
One wrote: "I don’t understand how this is humanly possible."
Another said: "How the hell do you gain that much weight in 15 days."
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A third commented: "The blow up after fights needs to be studied cos that is crazy."
Someone else added: "Paddy might be the best weight cutter I’ve ever seen bros bulking."
If you've been affected by any of the issues in this article and would like to speak with someone in confidence, call the BEAT Eating Disorders helpline on 0808 801 0677. Helplines are open 365 days a year from 9am–8pm during the week, and 4pm–8pm on weekends and bank holidays. Alternatively, you can try the one-to-one webchat.
Olivia Burke