Paddy Pimblett is preparing for his toughest test yet, but his sights are set beyond just Michael Chandler. With a win at UFC 314, Pimblett believes he could position himself for a massive fight against Conor McGregor—if McGregor ever returns.
The co-main event is set for April 12 in Miami, where Pimblett 22-3 MMA 6-0 UFC will go head-to-head with Chandler 23-9 MMA 2-4 UFC in a five-round showdown. Originally, Chandler was supposed to fight McGregor at UFC 303, but the matchup fell apart after McGregor pulled out due to a broken pinky toe. Instead, Chandler took on Charles Oliveira at UFC 309 last November but suffered a unanimous decision loss.
Pimblett Wants the McGregor Fight but Questions His Return
For Pimblett, a win over Chandler could be a game-changer, opening the door to the biggest fight of his career.
“Sounds very tasty,” Pimblett said in an interview with Round Eight Boxing. “A lot of people have said this to me already Beat Chandler take the McGregor fight. Obviously, he’s the biggest star in the sport. He’s the biggest star we’ve ever seen, biggest pay-per-view star. I’ll fight him in a main event, and we’ll get pay-per-view points.”
While the idea of facing McGregor excites him, Pimblett isn’t sure it will ever happen. McGregor has not fought since breaking his leg in a 2021 loss to Dustin Poirier, and questions about his return continue to grow.
“You know what I’ve said for years Yeah I think he will fight again but the longer it goes I’m starting to doubt it” Pimblett admitted.
Pimblett Respects McGregor’s Impact on the Sport
Even with doubts about McGregor’s future, Pimblett acknowledges the massive impact the former champion has had on MMA.
“It’s a no-brainer of course to fight McGregor but let’s see if he ever fights again” he added. “I respect McGregor what he’s done for the sport. Our sport wouldn’t be as big as it is now if it wasn’t for him. He took it to a new level so getting the chance to fight him would be amazing.”
For now, Pimblett remains focused on Chandler, knowing that a win on April 12 could set him up for even bigger opportunities. Whether McGregor steps back into the cage or not, Pimblett is determined to make his mark in the lightweight division.
