The FightPost Interviews: Paddy Pimblett

The FightPost Interviews: Paddy Pimblett

Liverpool’s Paddy Pimblett is one of those fighters that has been around for what seems like an eternity but is still a surprisingly young 24. He has achieved plenty but still has his peak years ahead of him, and the obvious frustration and anger can be heard in his voice when he speaks of how some have already written him off.

Pimblett last competed in MMA a year ago at Cage Warriors 96 in his hometown. That fight against Soren Bak was supposed to be the night that he would emulate Conor McGregor and become a CW two-weight world champion, and with it his long-awaited move to the UFC.

The night ended in disappointment and regret, Bak survived an extremely deep rear-naked choke from Pimblett in the opening round to win a clear decision in their 5 round lightweight title fight.

The fight is one Pimblett bitterly regrets taking, a broken wrist from his previous fight was damaged further:

“Taking that fight made the injury 10 times worse, the only good thing about is I got paid.”

Pimblett after two operations and with lessons learned is finally nearing his MMA return, hopefully before the year is out, but in the meantime, he returns to action in Manchester on Saturday night when he competes at Polaris 11 in a grappling match with UFC lightweight Stevie Ray.

Fighters love to compete, Pimblett is no different, this weekend’s grappling match a mere appetiser to what he craves the most, a return to the cage. In his previous two fights Pimblett moved to lightweight after the cut to featherweight proved too difficult and greatly contributed in Pimblett losing his Cage Warriors title at that weight. I wanted to know if Pimblett would return at lightweight:

“The first one will be at lightweight, but when I get to the UFC I will probably drop to featherweight again. When I was younger I wasn’t as professional as I am now, I was just a kid, the cut should be easier now, but you never know that weight-cut was just horrible.”

The fight with Bak is one Pimblett wants to run back, firmly believing that with two hands he would have the beating of ‘The True Viking’

“I think we will definitely end up fighting again, he’s not getting signed anytime soon, a fully fit version of me beats him. If that choke was in with the other arm he was going to sleep.” 

But Pimblett was full of admiration for Bak not tapping, when many including me thought the fight was over when he locked in the choke:

“I take my hat off to him for not tapping, I’m the same, if it was some kind of joint submission say, that would be different, with chokes you just have to go to sleep rather than tap.”

It never ceases to amaze me that the more fighters I speak to it makes me more aware what a different breed they are to the rest of us. Like some sort of badge of honour, they would rather be choked unconscious than have their perceived indignity of just giving up.

Pimblett has famously turned down previous advances from the UFC to sign him, but still wants to eventually end up there, and with that never-ending self-confidence in his own ability and worth says:

“I know if I lost 3 fights in a row the UFC would still want to sign me, but I still think I can beat anyone in the world, I know I will get there.” 

I wrote immediately after the loss to Bak, the injury aside, it would be a blessing in disguise.

“If I would have beaten Bak, I would have gone to the UFC with a broken wrist. I’m a different fighter now, I have taken a more scientific route, my body is completely different to how it was. Before the last fight, I couldn’t even do squats because of the wrist, I’m a lot stronger now.”  

Away from the ‘red panty’ paydays of the Conor McGregor’s of this world, the majority of fighters are not so fortunate. If they don’t fight, they don’t earn, Pimblett has obviously suffered over the last 12 months:

“I’ve had a year of depression, I know what it is like to hit rock bottom. I’ve struggled financially, I haven’t had a paycheck in the past year, my sponsors help out with clothes and a bit of money. I don’t work, I’m full-time in the gym.”

To finish the interview, I wanted to know what one thing in MMA would he change.

“Fighter pay, my best mate has had to retire. Fighting for a UK title, he got £400 show money and a £200 win bonus, compare that to what boxers get, it’s a joke. Even in the UFC its £10,000 show, and the same if you win, but then you have to pay the corner and training expenses out of that.”

Pimblett doesn’t have to look too far for inspiration, his friend and teammate Molly McCann has overcome her own adversity and self-doubt to prove all her doubters wrong, Pimblett is still young enough, and more importantly good enough to do the same.