Paddy Pimblett is gearing up for his return to the octagon in just over two months, where he will face Bobby Green at UFC 304. This fight presents a significant opportunity for ‘The Baddy’ to break into the lightweight rankings, especially with the advantage of fighting in front of a supportive Manchester, England crowd. Pimblett recently expressed his doubts about Green’s durability following a first-round knockout loss to Jalin Turner at UFC on ESPN 52.
In an interview with Oscar Willis of The Mac Life, Pimblett criticized Green, labeling him as a “proper tool” and a “proper wanker.” He dismissed Green’s claims that Pimblett had mentioned him first, questioning why he would bring up Green at all.
When evaluating Green’s strengths and weaknesses, Pimblett acknowledged Green’s strong striking abilities and good hands but argued that his chin had been compromised since the knockout by Turner. He also pointed out that Jim Miller, who is not known for his knockout power, managed to wobble Green in their fight at UFC 300, which Pimblett attributed to the damage Green sustained from Turner.
Pimblett believes that Green will aim to keep the fight standing, leveraging his striking and takedown defense. However, Pimblett is confident that he can exploit Green’s weakened chin and finish him, which he predicts will propel him into the lightweight rankings.
Pimblett also revealed that he had a preferred opponent in mind—Renato Moicano. He stated that he would have rather faced Moicano, who is ranked higher at No. 10, because he finds Moicano amusing and anticipated an entertaining build-up to the fight. In contrast, Pimblett described Green as a “bellend.” Despite both Pimblett and Moicano expressing interest in fighting each other, the matchup did not materialize, leaving fans to speculate whether the UFC might be saving that bout for the future.
The fight against Bobby Green at UFC 304 is set to be the most challenging of Pimblett’s MMA career so far. As he prepares for this crucial bout, Pimblett’s confidence and pointed remarks suggest he is ready to make a statement in the lightweight division.
