Paddy Pimblett was ready to turn his back on MMA and quit after being paid just £500 per fight.
Pimblett has enjoyed a remarkable rise since signing in the UFC, becoming one of the most recognisable names on the roster having won his first four fights with the promotion. The Liverpudlian's MMA career began in sensational fashion as he signed for Cage Warriors in 2013, where he began putting together a series of wins, suffering three losses along the way.
During his rise under an alternate banner, Pimblett became a featherweight champion in the professional ranks and subsequently earned his switch to the UFC in 2021. But despite having come along way since the early stages of his blossoming MMA stint, Pimblett revealed he wasn't convinced there was longevity in the sport due to the financial terms.
"It would have been a tougher decision," Pimblett told Severe MMA when discussing his initial debut with MMA promotion Cage Warriors in the early years of his career. "I was looking at walking away from MMA at 4-1 because I wasn't getting paid enough. I was going to quit it at like 18-years-old because I wasn't getting paid anywhere near enough.
"I was getting like £500-a-fight or something stupid like that so I can understand a lot of fighters going to PFL and Bellator. But I think if you have got a dream to be in the UFC, like I think 99 of 100 MMA fighters dream to be then you have to join them. No-one wakes up and says 'I want to fight Bellator' or 'I want to fight in the PFL', unless they want to win the $1 million with an easier prize."
Things have since changed for 'Paddy the Baddy' who has helped sell out a number of UFC events in the UK where fans have flocked in numbers to see the rising star in action. Despite the prospect of bigger financial reward in the leading promotion, it hasn't all been plain sailing at this level for Pimblett.
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The 28-year-old earned guaranteed purses of just £9,000 and £18,000 at his UFC London appearances despite selling a huge number of tickets, leading to the roaring success of his night. Although he picked up bonuses for putting out statement wins over Jordan Leavitt and Kazula Vargas, fans were left unhappy after discovering his financial reward.
However Pimblett's manager Graham Boylan has revealed that the star now has increased financial terms for his future UFC appearances after inking a new deal. "Everybody goes into the UFC on a standard contract," Boylan told Mirror Fighting. "There's no difference what you do, you have to go and prove yourself.
"I can categorically tell you now that contract's gone, that's gone - he's on f***ing big money now. It is what it is but I'm just happy for him."
