The UFC’s hottest newcomer, Paddy Pimblett, has let slip that he’s planning a return to the Octagon at a UFC event in March. Appearing on fellow Brit Michael Bisping’s Believe You Me podcast, Pimblett revealed that he’ll be making his second walk into the Octagon at a purported UFC London event. In doing so, he dismissed the rumor that he’ll be taking on Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone as “clickbait” and expressed a long-held wish to fight in London before a “home crowd”.
“It’s going round everywhere, but there’s no truth to it. Nothing on my end. Do you really think that the UFC are gonna put me on a card on the 5th of March in Vegas when they’re doing London on the 19th? It doesn’t make sense.
Paddy The Baddy To Return To UFC in March
I think that was just Chael having a little go for some clickbait or something. It started with Chael. I would like to fight in London, in front of my home crowd. It would be sick.
That’s what I’m guessing (will happen) and that’s what I’ve been told, that me and Molly will be fighting on the same card. That’s happening. I’m gonna take someone’s head off again in the O2. I’ll announce myself once again.”
Pimblett made one of the most hotly anticipated UFC debuts of 2021 when he fought Luigi Vendramini at UFC Vegas 36. Vendramini visibly rocked Pimblett early in the first round, with Pimblett looking worse for wear following some brutal early exchanges.
However, as the seconds ticked away, Pimblett exposed Vendramini’s timing. He delivered a series of vicious, precise strikes to Vendramini, knocking the Italian fighter out in the dying seconds of their first round. Paddy Pimblett had promised a first-round stoppage win before the fight, and managed to deliver.
Whether he can repeat the feat in 2022 is another story, but it’s clear that Pimblett is a high-priority young star for the UFC. His next opponent has yet to be confirmed, but with Pimblett consistently referring to himself as the UFC’s next big star, he’ll be hoping for an opponent more highly regarded than a fellow debutante like Vendramini.
An appearance at a UFC London event is only one step closer to Pimblett’s declared long-term goal, which is to fight at home in Liverpool at the legendary Anfield stadium. Anfield, home ground of Pimblett’s beloved soccer team Liverpool FC, has never hosted an MMA event, but if Paddy is even half as successful as he believes he’ll be, perhaps he can make it happen.
Are you looking forward to the return of Paddy “The Baddy”? Let us know in the comments.
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