Paddy Pimblett has ruled out fighting at lightweight before the end of the year.
‘The Baddy’ cracked the 155lb top 15 when he choked out King – formerly known as Bobby – Green inside a round at UFC 304 in July.
It was hoped that Pimblett would fight again in 2024, but he says he’s likely to sit out until the new year because ‘it’s too late’ to cut down to lightweight.
The Englishman claims the only way fans will see him fight again before the end of December is if the UFC offers him a big name to take on at welterweight.
- READ MORE: Who is Paddy Pimblett? Get to know the ‘baddy’ of MMA who is making his presence felt in UFC
Paddy Pimblett is willing to move up to 170lbs for the right fight
Pimblett has always been honest about his desire to fight Conor McGregor, who previously held the Cage Warriors featherweight title that was eventually claimed by the Liverpudlian before his UFC move.
‘Notorious’ is the biggest star in the sport, and regardless of weight, Pimblett insists that he’d love the chance to have a ‘Red Panty Night’ with the Irishman.
“Any MMA fighter who says, ‘No, I wouldn’t fight him’ is lying. Simple as that,” Pimblett told the Liverpool Echo.
“I saw Ilia [Topuria] saying it the other day. Lad, you would. Stop lying.
“Every single person in this sport, if you get offered Conor McGregor, you’re fighting Conor McGregor.
Pimblett is famous for ballooning up in weight between fights, and it takes him more time than most to cut down to the 155lb weight limit – but he’s never missed it.
A second outing in 2024 appears to be unlikely unless the UFC offers him McGregor or former interim UFC welterweight champion Colby Covington at a higher weight.
He added: “I actually said that to my manager.
“It’s too late now to make lightweight for the UFC events at the end of the year. I’d rather not kill myself trying to make weight – but if they want to get me Colby [Covington] or McGregor at welterweight, I’d do it.”
“I’d fight either at welterweight because they aren’t massive welterweights. I don’t think many welterweights are that big compared to me. I only realized how big of a lightweight I am when I fought Bobby.”
Conor McGregor and Colby Covington are currently unmatched
McGregor is currently looking for an opponent for his UFC comeback bout after being sidelined since breaking his leg during a trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021.
Michael Chandler was supposed to welcome him back to MMA at UFC 303 in June, but McGregor broke his pinky toe in training and opted to withdraw from the contest.
Rather than wait for a new date, Chandler has agreed to take a rematch with Charles Oliveira, who previously knocked him out to win the lightweight title, at UFC 309 on November 16.
McGregor recently told BloodyElbow.com that he will face Dan Hooker on February 1 in Saudi Arabia, but Dana White subsequently claimed that, even though he likes the matchup, he hasn’t discussed it with the pair.
Covington hasn’t fought since breaking his foot during a five-round title loss to Leon Edwards in December 2023.
‘Chaos’ is ready to return and there’s been lots of talk about him potentially facing Ian Garry next.
Right now, nothing is official and he remains available for a fight with Pimblett should the UFC opt to move him up a weight before the end of 2024.