Paddy ‘The Baddy’ Pimblett is dialed in ahead of his UFC 304 return fight as he expects King Green to underestimate one key area of his skillset.
Whilst two enormous world title fight rematches top the UFC 304 bill in Manchester, including local hero Tom Aspinall, the ‘people’s main event’ is undoubtedly Paddy ‘The Baddy’ Pimblett against veteran of the promotion, the now legally named King Green.
Paddy Pimblett brands his UFC 304 opponent a ‘fake Tupac’
Given his quick wits and notoriety for making jokes at his opponents’ expense, it’s not particularly a surprise to hear Pimblett continually making fun of Bobby Green for legally changing his name to ‘King’ – which had previously been his nickname throughout his UFC career.
On the recent episode of the UFC Embedded series, ‘The Baddy’ once again took aim at Green for the name-change, calling the lightweight veteran an “egomaniac” and one of the cockiest fighters he’d ever seen.
“It’s been one of the best camps that I’ve ever had… Bobby talks a lot of s***, he’s an egomaniac, talks about me being cocky when he’s one of the cockiest fighters I’ve ever seen in my life.
“But he’s not going to have a chance to do that against me because when I f***** hit him on the chin he’s going down… So, Bobby’s going to be cocky all he wants, but I’m going to show everyone he’s f***** fake Tupac with all of his fake chains.”
Paddy Pimblett believes Green is underestimating one key part of his skillset
As one of, if not the biggest name on the UFC 304 main card, Pimblett has been here, there, and everywhere on the media front as he continues to build the hype surrounding his long-awaited return fight.
Yet when talking to fellow UFC fighters Tyson Pedro and Josh Culibao via Fox Sports’ Mainevent, Pimblett was given the chance to speak openly about the gameplan heading into Fight Week.
“Everyone’s talking about this fight like it’s striker vs grappler but it’s not – I’m going to come out and I’m going to put hands on his chin and kick him in the face,” he exclaimed.
To put it simply, the Scouse superstar believes that out of all the facets of his game, overlooking his KO ability could come back to haunt Green in a big way come Sunday morning.
“And I think that’s the one thing that Bobby’s really underestimating me, he’s underestimating my power… People don’t realize how big of a lightweight I am and I’ll be honest, I never used to believe in my power because I’ve always been a grappler.
“But my coaches and sparring partners have been saying to me the past couple of months, ‘Lad, where you’ve got bigger in your S&C regime’s been 100%’ – when I’m touching people’s chins, they’re feeling it.”
Green’s last three losses in the octagon have all come by way of KO/TKO, with the popular Liverpudlian believing that despite once having a granite chin, Green’s ability to take those shots is long gone.
“After he was knocked out by Drew Dober and that horrific stoppage against Jalin Turner, your chin’s never the same and I genuinely think if I put hands on him, I’m going to knock him out.
“Obviously, if the opportunity arises to put him on his back and submit him, I’ll do that also like it goes without saying I want to finish him, but I’ve got a sneaking suspicion that I’m going to knock him out cold.”
Paddy Pimblett finally gets his Sakuraba shorts back for UFC 304
Prior to his entrance in the UFC, Paddy Pimblett’s legendary look wasn’t just comprised of his Beatles-esque haircut and bouncy-house energy, but also a pair of bright-orange fight shorts.
Despite being notably absent in his past few fights, Pimblett’s wishes to see the iconic fit kit return have been granted with the promotion confirming that the Sakuraba-inspired kit will be back for UFC 304 this weekend.
“I tried them on today and they fit like a glove,” he told featherweight co-host Josh Culibao, before teasing that a new ‘mythical fighter’ will be reborn when he dons the orange shorts at the Co-Op Arena.
“The old Baddy from the Cage Warriors days getting first round finishes is coming back with them on!”
Paddy Pimblett vs King Green is the third-to-last fight of the UFC 304 main card, which goes in the early hours of Sunday, July 28, in Manchester.