Pimblett up for Moicano meeting: “The build-up would be comedy gold”

Paddy Pimblett continues his ascent after taking out Bobby Green in UFC 304 on Saturday. The 29-year-old Liverpudlian snuffed out The King with a textbook triangle choke submission three minutes into Round 1 of their bout at Manchester’s Co-op Live Arena. Paddy the Baddy admitted afterwards that he was surprised at how he was able to make short work of the bout against a fighter who is listed at 15th in the lightweight ranking with a 32-16-1 record in MMA, and 13-11-1 in UFC.

No easy fights at this level

“I think everyone’s a tough fight in this division - especially the top 15. You know you’re getting an easy fight, it’s as simple as that. Every single fight in the top 15 at lightweight... it’s the most deep division in the world when it comes to mixed martial arts, 155,” an ecstatic Pimblett told reporters afterwards.

The Huyton-born fighter was keen to stress that whatever was said between him and Green prior to the fight shouldn’t be misread or taken too seriously. “There’s no bad blood at all! It’s just that, in this game, I like to be respectful. We’re fighting to put food on the table for our families, " he explained. “I enjoy it more when there is a little bit of... not bad blood, but a little of a back and forth. I think my worst performance in the UFC was when fought Jared [Gordon] and we were very cordial with each other, it was very respectful. Every other performance, I haven’t had bad blood with other people but we’ve had a little back and forth. [Jordan] Leavitt... Tony [Ferguson] started chattin’ shit before we fought, and obviously this with Bobby. As I said before, it’s nothing personal but we had a little back and forth and yeah, it gets me going a little bit”.

Pimblett hoped he hadn’t made Green suffer too much. “His arm went, I felt it, I felt a little crunch. It was nasty. I just hope it isn’t too bad, because I know he likes to be active and he likes to fight as much as he can. So hopefully, it’s not a bad injury and he can fight again soon. But yeah, it’s nothing but respect with Bobby. Hopefully, when I get back to the hotel, we get to see each other and have a little bevy with each other or something”.

Comic sparring with Moicano

A new six-fight deal means we will be seeing Paddy the Baddy for a while yet. Further down the line he hopes he can set something up with 10th-ranked Renato Moicano - not just for the contest itself but for all the pre-amble - the back and forth, jibes and little digs. “He’s obviously ranked above me but I think the build-up would be hilarious. I’ve already said it tonight I think a season of the ultimate fighter in me and him and the coaches would be absolutely fuckin’ comedy gold!”

Recently a father of twin girls, he readily admits that perhaps his life has changed tack a little. He’s even traded in his trademark Cheggers bowl haircut for a new cornrow look - maybe a nod to his good mate Meatball Molly. But the spark and energy remains the same. An added bonus is seeing critics who take a pop at him hang their heads in shame. “You can’t beat shutting some dickheads up. I love shutting haters up. The amount of people that I’ve seen say, ‘He’s never going to be ranked, he’s not good enough to be ranked, he’s never be in the top 15...’ All that... Even fighters I’ve seen on Youtube, talking shit.

“All week, it was, ‘Ah, Bobby’s going to dogwalk Paddy, he’s not going to be able to get near him on the feet...’ And I jabbed his head off. I think he hit me in the stomach once. I didn’t get hit. I’m fresh as a daisy,” he ended.