Paddy Pimblett has claimed only one sparring partner accepted an offer prior to his controversial UFC win over Jared Gordon.
Pimblett has become one of the most high-profile names on the UFC roster having won his first four fights since joining the promotion in 2021. However the Liverpudlian was forced to survive a scare in his most recent showdown against Gordon in December, having picked up a controversial win on the scorecards.
Prior to the fight, a video emerged of the star choking out three training partners following his win over the American which may have struck fear into potential rivals. And the 28-year-old has since revealed that he struggled to find others to work with him before suggesting he did keep footage of the rounds he did have.
"That is just a respect thing with sparring not to share it around on social media," Pimblett told Severe MMA when discussing the build-up to his narrow recent win to continue his streak. "You don't put sparring rounds on social media. That is definitely a respect thing. But only one person said yes to sparring me in my last camp to be honest and that was Thomas Paull.
"I've got the rounds on my phone there but I have never shared them and that is because it is a respect thing. It is just what you do when someone decent has sparred you." Pimblett trains extremely hard with part of his preparation requiring him to make a significant weight cut.
His win over Gordon was considered hugely controversial, and despite edging the fight on the scorecards the ex-Cage Warriors champion's night was marred after suffering an ankle injury. It is expected that it will keep him out for the remainder of the year and he will likely need surgery to correct the issue.
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It has been a whirlwind start to life in the UFC for Pimblett who is now considered one of the biggest draws on the roster despite still being in the early stages of his career. Several names have called for contests against the rising star but talks have yet to materialise given the potential delay to his return.
And in a worrying update, he suggested that it could be a while before he graces the UFC octagon in a fresh appearance. He told Sky Sports: "I hurt my foot in the first round, the first minute or two, threw a kick and hurt it. I felt it but cracked on and got through the fight. At the end of the fight I can remember going back to the medical room and saying, 'My foot's sore here'.
"I couldn't get it looked at properly until I got back home. It was a lot worse than they [doctors] thought. I had to get inner and outer ligament surgery, reconstruction. So it's big. I have already been on the crutches for six-and-a-half weeks, it could be another six weeks. I'll be lucky to fight this year."
