Paddy Pimblett may have shot to stardom in recent years but still seems to be taking his time despite being one-half of a pay-per-view main event in just his fourth UFC fight.
The 27-year-old has come a long way since his first professional win over Nathan Thompson in October 2012. Competing in various promotions before he established himself as a serious prospect with Cage Warriors.
Leaving the European promotion as a 16-3 lightweight, Pimblett was on his way to the elite of MMA in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
The Scouser had previously taken pride in turning down the promotion in the past to take his time to hone his skills prove he was the star he believed he was upon his arrival in the UFC, rather than just another fighter making up the numbers.
“A lot of people rush to get into the UFC. They’ll lose short notice fights and your dreams over I didn’t want that to happen to me I was only 21 when they offered me a contract and I am so hppy that I never took the offer.” Pimblett told the BBC.
With three fights under his belt in the promotion, ‘The Baddy’ is already a star. Taking the co-main event spot of UFC 282 ahead of former champions and contenders, while still being unranked with the UFC, the promotion is not ignoring Pimblett’s star power and his payment is likely rising each time he makes the walk to the octagon.
Now, with three fights under his belt in the promotion, ‘The Baddy’ is already a star. Taking the co-main event spot of UFC 282 ahead of former champions and contenders, while still being unranked with the UFC, the promotion is not ignoring Pimblett’s star power.
If this wasn’t enough, Pimblett has been compared to the biggest household name in MMA history, Conor McGregor, on multiple occasions. Although, the Next Generation MMA fighter has made it clear his path to the top will be different to that of the Irishman.
By the time McGregor had fought the same number of fights in the UFC as Pimblett is at, he was facing Dustin Poirier, a highly established competitor who went on to hold an interim lightweight title, and was already putting himself in contention for Jose Aldo's 145 pound crown.
Pimblett has done things differently, however, fighting opponents who have yet to be ranked but who offer a different array of challenges.
Indeed, Pimblett was already fielding questions about a hypothetical fight with former UFC Lightweight Interim champion Tony Ferguson following his first bout in September 2021.
"I’d like to see me against Tony Ferguson, but not on the contract I’m on now," he told Anything Goes With James English.. "F—k that. Get paid that money to fight Tony Ferguson, lad. Yeah, he’s still one of the best 155ers in the world, lad. I want six f—king figures, then I’m fighting hi
Instead, a TKO win over Luigi Vendramini was followed up by successive submission wins against Rodrigo Vargas and Jordan Leavitt.
And his next opponent, Jared Gordon, cannot be overlooked, however. Although he may not be gunning for a belt yet, Pimblett's competition is improving.
Gordon is 4-1 in the UFC octagon in his last five outings and has fought a higher level of competition than any of Pimblett’s previous UFC opponents.
If victorious the young man from Huyton will have the fans at his feet and the numbers to back it up. When he makes his way into the 155-pound rankings he may become the biggest draw in the sport's history.
