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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Ben Davies

Conor McGregor open to future UFC showdown with "good kid" Paddy Pimblett

Conor McGregor has admitted he is open to the possibility of facing rising star Paddy Pimblett in a future UFC showdown.

The Irish star is currently out of action as he continues his recovery from a broken leg suffered in a trilogy defeat to Dustin Poirier last year.

McGregor is currently in Ireland where he attended the Bellator 275 event last night in Dublin and couldn't resist jumping in the cage at the end of his teammate's victory.

He has now admitted that he has a soft spot for the city of Liverpool due to his father and believes that Pimblett is a "good kid".

"He's a good kid, Paddy... You've got to love the Scousers," McGregor told SecondsOut. "You know my father was born in Liverpool.

Conor McGregor will look to make his return to the UFC this year (Zuffa LLC)

"One side of my family is from there. So I've got a lot of love for that part of the world. And who knows? You know, I will never say no to nothing. You know, never say never, as they say."

Pimblett has been making waves inside and outside of the cage for his lively personality combined with his fighting skills.

The rising star currently competes in McGregor's lightweight division and impressed on debut with an opening round stoppage of Luigi Vendramini last year.

His next test will come in the UFC London event next month which will see him clash against Rodrigo Vargas as he looks to make another successful step in his blossoming journey.

His personality has certainly attracted a large fanbase with the Merseyside star only having fought once with the promotion.

Pimblett has previously revealed he is targeting a clash with McGregor in the future and believes it could be the highest selling UFC pay-per-view ever.

"I think I’m going to go 3-0 in the UFC and I’m going to become the biggest box office name they’ve got besides Conor McGregor," Pimblett told ESPN.

Would you like to see Conor McGregor face Paddy Pimblett? Let us know in the comments section below

“Yeah, besides him because he has the name. I know for a fact if I fought him it would be the most box offices sold ever. Without a shadow of a doubt.

“People want to see him get beat and people want to see him win and people want to see me get beat and people want to see me win.”

McGregor is continuing his recovery from injury and is eyeing a return to the octagon this year with particular interest in the lightweight division.

The 33-year-old has slid down to ninth position in the official rankings and is eyeing redemption at lightweight with a number of call-outs received.

This includes the likes of Michael Chandler, Tony Ferguson and even a call to the boxing ring by YouTube star Jake Paul.

Another option could also be a potential immediate title shot against the winner of Charles Oliveira's title defence against Justin Gaethje later this year.

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