Paddy Pimblett is beginning to eye up opponents for his eventual return to the UFC later this year as he begins his ascent towards a top lightweight ranking.
The Liverpool native has yet to taste defeat in the octagon, and is now eyeing a spot into the top 15 as he heads back into action. He most recently defeated the legendary former interim champion Tony Ferguson at UFC 296 in December, and is expected to return this summer.
Pimblett is one of the promotion’s brightest prospects, and has managed to grab attention with casual fans in a way rarely seen even at the top level of MMA. He is expected to have a homecoming of sorts in Manchester at UFC 304, just 35 miles from his hometown.
Paddy Pimblett pushing for ranked opponent in UFC comeback
The popular fighter was out for a year before going the distance with Ferguson in December having suffered a foot injury that required surgery in his win over Jared Gordon. He has since taken time out as he welcomed twin girls with wife Laura.
While a fight at UFC 304 is not signed yet, he seemed confident in a recent vlog that it would be his next move. “I seen big Tommy Aspinall put up the other day that he’s fighting on Manchester,” he told viewers after a training session.
“So it’s looking like that is going to be a pay-per-view isn’t it? So it’s looking like you’ll see your boy on there. I just know that [at] UFC 300 everybody wants a slice of ‘the baddy’.”
Paddy Pimblett dismisses Bobby Green callout despite top 15 spot
One of the many fighters who used their platforms at the promotion’s big UFC 300 pay-per-view event to chase Pimblett was Bobby Green. The American is a veteran fan-favourite, and after a bloody win over Jim Miller he took to the microphone to make his claim for the showdown.
But Pimblett is unimpressed by his ability to draw interest, joking that his rival hasn’t got the fanbase to warrant a fight even though he’s crept into the top 15 at lightweight. “Bobby Green screamed my name on the mic after it,” he continued. “Didn’t surprise me.
“He might be ranked, but he’s got no followers and he needs me. Just like everyone else, they want to fight me because they know I’m the boy. Bobby Green’s an option. If Bobby Green wants to fight, I’m there.”
Paddy Pimblett offers major opportunity to Renato Moicano as pair push for fight
The bout that seemed to interest Pimblett more was with Brazilian Renato Moicano. The renowned trash-talker is a similarly fast-rising star at 155lb and while they are friendly with one another, they both want to make a fight happen.
And Pimblett reckons they could do it as coaches on The Ultimate Fighter in order to extend promotion for their eventual meeting. “I’d rather fight my boy, Moicano,” he explained said. “Where you at, Renato? I don’t even dislike Renato Moicano. I actually like him.
“He’s a funny guy. He’s a cool dude. So me and him having a fight would be hilarious. The buildup to that fight would be very, very funny. I think it’d be even funnier if me and him done a season of The Ultimate Fighter.
“That’d be six, seven, eight weeks of pure comedy for the fans. So I’d love that, to be honest. And I’d rather go right in at rank 10 rather than beating rank 15.”