Paddy Pimblett expects to hear his name being called a lot as he continues his UFC career.
Already recognized as one of the most talked-about athletes in MMA, the 27-year-old lightweight currently boasts a perfect 3-0 record in the octagon following his latest win over Jordan Leavitt. He didn’t have much time to celebrate after Terrance McKinney called his out at UFC Vegas 59.. McKinney had a stunning finish.
Pimblett was not surprised that McKinney called them out. He knows it’s the fastest way to create a brand than trying to knock out UFC’s new superstar.
” Everyone wants to fight us,” Pimblett said to MMA Fighting at UFC San Diego. “He’s got less than 100,000 followers and I’m at 1. 8 million or something. They want me to be defeated. But also, I’m not a very scary dude.
” I don’t seem that intimidating. People think ‘I can beat him,’ but when you get in the cage with me and you’ve got to solve the puzzle, you can’t.”
According to Pimblett he has had previous interactions with McKinney and would not turn down the fight. He also knows that they could have a bigger fight once both are established in the lightweight hierarchy.
That said, “The Baddy” expects to eventually cross paths with McKinney — but whether it happens sooner or later remains to be seen.
“Me and Terrance have actually spoke,” Pimblett said. We spoke via Twitter in the past and said that we might fight when there is a major event on a big card.
“But he’s obviously seen how I blew up and he wants to jump the queue and jump the bandwagon now. I don’t mind. I’ll fight anyone. We’ll see what happens over the coming weeks with a few lightweight results and we’ll see what happens.”
For now, Pimblett is just enjoying himself between fights — which means he’s also taking the opportunity to sample the local cuisine in San Diego, and wherever else he might be traveling.
He jokes about his obsession with food, which leads to Pimblett gaining weight before he returns to a training camp.
When Pimblett was asked about his weight on Saturday, he said he was “about 200 [pounds]” – a staggering 44 pound over the light limit — but that he is not planning to fight anytime soon.
Pimblett admitted that extreme weight gain or weight loss will eventually end but not in the near future.
” When I get older, and once I begin fighting ranked opponents I will lose weight,” Pimblett stated. “But for now, I enjoy putting a little bit of chub rub on.”
As far as when Pimblett might need to start working his way back down to 155 pounds, he confirmed that he won’t be fighting alongside teammate Molly McCann at the upcoming UFC 281 card scheduled on Nov. 12 at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Instead, Pimblett is targeting UFC 282 as his ideal next landing spot, with plans to get a third fight in the octagon before 2022 is over.
” I think that I will fight in Vegas,” Pimblett stated. “That’s what I’m hoping. I’ve seen that card getting slated for Dec. 10.”
