Despite being one of the most popular fighters in the world at the moment, there are some who feel that Paddy Pimblett needs to be humbled.
The former Cage Warriors champion has yet to taste defeat inside the octagon, but takes a big step up when he faces Bobby Green at UFC 304 in Manchester this summer. And the American is confident that he can be the one that stops his rise towards the lightweight rankings.
Pimblett most recently defeated former interim world champion Tony Ferguson at UFC 296 in Las Vegas. However, the impressive victory is marred by the fact that the ex-title holder entered the bout on a six-fight losing streak, with the last three coming by way of stoppage.
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Bobby Green takes aim at Paddy Pimblett ahead of grudge fight
UFC veteran Green is a clear step up in competition for Pimblett, and will finally be his route into the top 15 at lightweight if the Brit continues his winning run. He has won three of his last four, and was able to finish Ferguson while Pimblett went the three round distance.
Aside from Ferguson, they share a common opponent in Jared Gordon. While Green’s fight was stopped prematurely due to a clash of heads, Pimblett took a controversial decision win which many felt he lost.
And his attitude towards that result irked Green, with the lightweight telling Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour last night: “He started talking about the Jared fight and not only that, he doubled down on that s*** like ‘no, I whooped his a**!’
“Bro, everybody can see that you lost that fight so just be humble. He’s not humble and this s*** is going to humble him up.”
Bobby Green details when bitter Paddy Pimblett feud started
Green was flying high after two big wins over Tony Ferguson and Grant Dawson in the latter half of last year. But his momentum was slightly stunted when he lost to Jalin Turner, a fight which had featured Pimblett in the build-up as a subject of the American’s annoyance.
“He spoke about me right before the Jalin fight,” Green explained. “I think he thought he was going to get a prime position. So since I had that setback I think he thought I forgot about him and I’m like ‘nah, nah’.
“I ain’t forgot about bro, I’m going to go handle this s*** and I’ll get you and guess what? I’m coming after Renato [Moicano] next because he said my name. Those two guys thought they were going to talk to each other and work this stupid fight out, I’m going to whoop both of y’all a**es.”
Paddy Pimblett remains quiet on Bobby Green fight after Renato Moicano snub
Pimblett had been open about his interest in fighting Renato Moicano at UFC 304, and specifically told Green that he wasn’t keen on the bout. He claimed that the American didn’t have the requisite following to earn such a fight, but last week it was announced that they would meet.
Since the fight announcement, Pimblett has remained quiet on social media. He re-shared a poster for the bout from his management company, but otherwise hasn’t posted a YouTube or Instagram video to promote the event.
He has a longer-standing frenemy relationship with Moicano that appeared to be better suited to a fight, but has instead been asked to face Green. He previously told fans on his YouTube channel that his opponent had “no followers”, and as such shouldn’t get the fight.
“He might be ranked, but he’s got no followers and he needs me,” Pimblett said. “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.”