Paddy Pimblett is now the co-main event of UFC 282 but says fans were coming to watch him anyway.
Pimblett, who meets Jared Gordon at the Dec. 10 pay-per-view from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, was elevated to co-headline after the light heavyweight title rematch between Jiri Prochazka and Glover Teixeira was scrapped. But regardless of his placement on the card, Pimblett (19-3 MMA, 3-0 UFC) believed he always was the main reason people will tune in.
“I was the people’s main event anyway,” Pimblett said in an interview with UFC Europe. “But obviously being co-main event is a privilege, so can’t wait to put on a show for everyone. I know a lot of people are there only to watch me. I’m the main attraction. It’s that simple. Even when I was just a featured bout. Now that I’m the co-main, I am the main attraction. I feel sorry for half of the other people on the card, because all the attention is gonna be on me. What can I say?”
Pimblett has emerged as one of the biggest stars on the UFC roster in just the past year. The 27-year-old has earned Performance of the Night bonuses for his three finishes over Luigi Vendramini, Kazula Vargas and Jordan Leavitt.
Gordon (19-5 MMA, 7-4 UFC) is expected to present his toughest challenge to date in the octagon. If he’s able to score another finish, Pimblett expects to get some respect.
“It’s gonna be more spectacular than the last,” Pimblett said. “I always try and make it better, better than the last one. Vargas was decent, Leavitt was decent, but I’m gonna make a statement this time. People are still calling me a hype train, still saying I’m this, still saying I’m that. People won’t be saying that after this one when I finish Jared Gordon in the first round.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 282.
