Paddy Pimblett: UFC 304 & Beyond

Paddy Pimblett: UFC 304 & Beyond

In the early hours of Sunday morning in Manchester, Paddy Pimblett will face what is perceived to be the toughest test of his near three-year UFC career.

King Bobby Green represents that challenge at UFC 304. The American is a fighter who has a resume that deserves much respect. Green is favoured to derail the Pimblett hype train. For the first time in his o far unblemished UFC run, Pimblett is expected to lose if you go off the bookies odds. The odds are close, certainly a lot closer than the opening odds that made Green a reasonably heavy betting favourite to inflict the Liverpool fighter’s first UFC defeat.

Pimblett has grown up in many ways since he made that maiden UFC cage walk in September 2021 with that statement-making stoppage victory over Luigi Vendramini. The early adversity overcome, Pimblett launched a blistering assault to stop the Italian fighter in the opening round of their fight at the much-maligned UFC Apex. It had been a long time coming, but the long wait was worth it. Four wins later, Pimblett is now approaching the business end of his UFC career. A win over Green will give Pimblett a coveted place in the UFC lightweight rankings. The Liverpool fighter will then enter the sink-or-swim stage of his UFC tenure.

There was a time when Pimblett feared his career was over. The former Cage Warriors featherweight champion was on the brink. A severe and lingering wrist injury that required multiple operations could have ended his career. The pandemic further stalled his progress. Even when he finally reached the promised land of the UFC, Pimblett needed further time on the sidelines due to a surgeon’s knife. An ankle injury sustained in his controversial win over Jared Gordon in December 2022 required surgery. The Liverpool fighter returned twelve months later. A win over the faded former contender Tony Ferguson dusted off the cobwebs. But ‘King’ Green is the acid test. Even Pimblett accepts this, he knows the challenge he faces in Manchester.

Pimblett knows a win will push him closer to the upper echelons of the UFC lightweight division. A red-hot division that is almost certainly the toughest and deepest of them all. But regardless of the phenomenal talent that resides in his natural home, Pimblett wants a title run. It starts with Green.

It’s been far from easy for Pimblett in recent times. An admission that only a few weeks ago there were serious thoughts of his coach pulling him out of the fight because he wasn’t in the right mental state. Opening up to his battles with his mental health, Pimblett has received the predictable hate from some. But trust me, his struggles are real. After a defeat to Søren Bak in Cage Warriors in 2018, Pimblett told FightPost.

“When Bak beat me after that first round, I was so depressed for a couple of months. It was horrible. I went into a deep dark depression and if it wasn’t for the people close to me, I don’t know if I would still be here.”

But if you ignore the social media noise, his words most definitely serve a purpose. By opening up, Pimblett will help many. That should be the overriding narrative from his words.

Pimblett seems a different fighter this week. The one-liners are still out in force. But there is also an added touch of maturity. The importance of his fight with Green has undoubtedly hit home. Those dreams of UFC titles and even headlining at his beloved Anfield hinge to some extent on what he does on Sunday morning. Despite having a new shiny UFC contract in play, Pimblett still needs to maintain his impressive momentum for his dreams to be fast-tracked. A defeat at UFC 304, will undoubtedly slow down everything.

The Liverpool fighter has his critics. But he has a little bit of what Conor McGregor had all those years ago in that incredibly seismic first run at UFC gold. Love or hate Pimblett, people tune in regardless. Whether they want to see him win or lose, Pimblett brings a large following. Pimblett is pure box office, even his haters have to give him that. If he keeps winning, he may even get McGregor inside a cage. Imagine that at Anfield and the torch possibly being passed in front of a sold-out stadium. Make no mistake, Pimblett carries that kind of popularity. Star quality is a rare gift. Pimblett has it in abundance.

Pimblett has been changed so much since 2021. Now, a father of twins and a married man, the innocence and naivety of his youth are long gone. At 29, Pimblett seems intent on making up for lost time. Bobby Green could very well be in the wrong place at the wrong time. You sense Pimblett wants to show all the naysayers that he is a far better fighter than many give him credit for.

“You know where I will be. Everyone knows where I will be. If you don’t believe you can beat the world champion then you shouldn’t be in this sport. I am here to be the world champion, I am not here to make up the numbers.” Pimblett told this platform a few years ago. A win over Brown will likely give him everything he craves. The chase for UFC gold will then begin.