Paddy Pimblett was sunning himself in Mexico when the UFC rolled into Liverpool for the first time.
It was assumed in some quarters, and by Pimblett (14-2), that he might be the essential homegrown figurehead, with the requisite sheen of stardust, to finally compel the promotion to land their carnival in a city that has long since been an incubator for some of Europe’s elite fighting talent.
Instead, it was another Liverpudlian, Darren Till, who in May brought a capacity Echo Arena to its feet – unforgettably bellowing out a rendition of Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline” appropriated from the bleachers of nearby soccer stadiums – and took a controversial decision win over welterweight Stephen Thompson.
Of course, next weekend in Dallas, at UFC 228, Till will look to unseat Tyron Woodley as the 170-pound champion and become just the second Englishman in history to wear UFC gold.
The closest Pimblett got to the action on the night of UFC Liverpool was watching friend and Next Generation teammate Molly McCann lose her promotional debut to Gillian Robertson on Facetime. The thing is, Pimblett’s absence was more than a simple of case of just not getting that coveted call from the UFC. They had previously sought to add him to their roster.
In the aftermath of Pimblett clinching the vacant Cage Warriors featherweight title via second-round knockout of Johnny Frachey back in September 2016 – also in front of a raucous Echo Arena – the UFC tabled a deal. But, believe it or not, Cage Warriors bettered it.
“I’ll be honest, the UFC came in with an offer after I won the belt, but I would have been an idiot to refuse the offer Cage Warriors gave me,” Pimblett told MMAjunkie this week. “I had a meal with (Cage Warriors owner) Graham Boylan in London after I won the title, and there were a few offers, but we just picked the one that was best for us in the now. Cage Warriors was better cash, so I would have been stupid to say no.”
It’s no secret the UFC’s purse strings are more than a little tight, but for a then 21-year-old to refuse their overtures could not have been the response they expected. While not being at the heart of the UFC’s inaugural showcase in his hometown jarred a little, Pimblett has no regrets.
“Obviously, I can’t give exact figures, but I came away from my last fight with about three times as much as Molly did from hers, and she fought in the UFC,” Pimblett said. “So, I now know the wages aren’t the best, and you taxed bad, depending on where you fight, so I might have to try and find a little tax haven to fight in.
“It’s just one of them things. He (Till) got there, and got it done but, at the minute, I’m still young and doing my bits. I always said I’d be a two-weight world champion before I went (to the UFC), and I’m not just going to back out on my goal.”
Indeed, on Saturday at Cage Warriors 96, which will be streamed live on UFC Fight Pass, Pimblett returns to the Echo Arena to take on Denmark’s Soren Bak (10-1 MMA) for the vacant lightweight title.
“The Baddy” lost his featherweight crown in April 2017 but re-emerged as a lightweight 10 months later, and submitted Alex Savvidis with a flying triangle bound for the highlight reels.The belt at stake this weekend was vacated by Next Generation stablemate Chris Fishgold, who recently penned a contract with the UFC.
Paddy Pimblett submits Alexis Savvidis. (Dolly Clew, Cage Warriors)
Should Pimblett prevail, he will be just the second fighter – alongside Conor McGregor – to win multiple Cage Warriors titles, though “The Notorious” held the featherweight and lightweight straps simultaneously.
And yet, even this close to achieving a long-held ambition, the 23-year-old Pimblett is free of any pangs of urgency. He’s truly comfortable in his own skin.
“Because I’m so young, people forget I’ve been doing this a long time, but at 23, I’m going to be a two-weight world champion,” the Pimblett said. “I’m not in a rush to do anything. After this fight, I’ll have achieved what I set out to do, so we’ll see what happens, if the UFC come in with that offer. I don’t like to think I’m up my own ass, but I know what I’m worth. When I get signed, I’m expecting to be on a main card. There’s not going to be no undercard. I’m not expecting an easy fight when I get in the UFC.
“Because of the way I am, I think people will call me out and, if someone ranked wants to fight me, I’ll happily fight them. I know, just like everybody else does, that that contract is coming, so I’m not going to start screaming about it.”
Pimblett has been among the biggest names on the European circuit for some time, which makes Bellator’s decision not to approach him during their recent recruitment across the region quite odd. The Liverpool native, too, was a little taken aback but in no way bothered.
Paddy Pimblett. (Cage Warriors)
“I’m surprised that they didn’t, but it’s hard to analyze what they’re doing,” Pimblett said. “I’m so shocked that Karl Moore signed with them. I don’t understand why he would. He had the Cage Warriors light heavyweight belt.
“Anyway, Graham (Boylan) has been running Cage Warriors and getting people signed for years, and Ian Dean (matchmaker) makes the best fights on the UK scene,” Pimblett added.
Surely, he would have enjoyed the backing Bellator gave SBG Ireland’s James Gallagher, who, until recently, was going from strength to strength and had certainly become one of the most visible up-and-comers in the sport?
“Don’t even talk to me about that helmet. He’s a proper wet one,” Pimblett said. “I was happy he got knocked out, just because of how much of a dirty, disrespectful (expletive) he is.
“I’d rather not get pushed unfairly, compared to other people, just because of the gym I train at and that I’ve put an act on. McGregor isn’t putting an act on; that’s him, and that’s why I like and respect McGregor. The guy’s hilarious, he’s just himself, and that’s why everyone likes him. I also think that’s why people like me. Gallagher was just trying to be McGregor.”
For more on Cage Warriors 96, visit the MMA Rumors section of the site.
