Don’t expect to see Paddy Pimblett fighting a top 15 opponent… at least not without a new contract.
In the UFC’s return to London, ‘The Baddy’ picked up another first-round finish. After surviving a little adversity, Pimblett tapped out Rodrigo Vargas with a rear-naked choke.
PADDY GETS IT DONE IN ONE 💥 #UFCLONDON pic.twitter.com/00bBwoNtTp
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) March 19, 2022
Top 15? No Thanks.
As soon as the fight ended, potential future names were thrown around for Pimblett to fight next. Terrance McKinney, Ilia Topuria, Drew Dober, and even top 15 fighter, Brad Riddell. However, according to Pimblett, he will not fight anyone in the top 15 without a new contract.
“I wouldn’t take a top 15 fight. I’ll be honest, I wouldn’t,” Pimblett told the media during his UFC London post-fight interview. “Add some more zeros to my contract and then I will. I think I proved tonight that I deserve a new contract. Not this little standard one.”
Pimblett isn’t the first fight to say this, and he won’t be the last. Most recently, Sean O’Malley said he has no problem fighting unranked fighters because he gets paid the same and that he wants to get paid more to fight contenders.
‘I’m The Draw’
As for who is next for Pimblett, he says everyone wants to fight him. Earlier in the week, he and Topuria got into it and made everyone want to see that fight. However, Pimblett isn’t into it.
“Everyone wants to fight me,” Pimblett said. “Everyone wants to hang on my coattails. No one knew who hand sanitizer boy was until he tried to start an altercation with me. No one knew who he was. I’m the draw. Everyone wants to fight me.”
