Paddy Pimblett says a fight with Conor McGregor would be his ideal next step if both men are victorious at UFC 329 this weekend. Pimblett returns in the co-main event against Benoit Saint Denis, while McGregor headlines the card in his comeback fight against Max Holloway.
Pimblett enters Saturday’s event looking to rebound from the first loss of his UFC career after falling to Justin Gaethje in an interim lightweight title bout at UFC 324 in January. Despite that setback, the Liverpool fighter believes his profile has continued to grow and sees a potential clash with McGregor as the biggest fight available.
“The perfect fight for me would be Conor,” said Pimblett, according to a video posted on UFC Europe’s social media accounts as noted by MMA Fighting. “It’s mad, to be honest, because obviously, I won seven fights in a row, and I don’t think my stock went up as much as losing me last fight. I beat people like Michael Chandler, Bobby Green, Tony Ferguson, and people are just like, ‘Eh.’ Then I just got me head punched in for five rounds, and me stock went up. People are saying I lost, but I won, you know what I mean?”
Pimblett also acknowledged McGregor’s return has made the Irishman the focal point of the event. “Mad being on the same card as Conor McGregor,” said Pimblett, according to UFC Europe. “The biggest name in the sport. It’s nice for him to be back. This is probably going to be the most-watched UFC of all time. I’m not going to be the star of the show on this one. Definitely not. Conor is. But I’ll probably be the second star of the show.”
Should both fighters emerge victorious, Pimblett said he would like to face McGregor before the end of the year, suggesting Madison Square Garden as the venue. “If McGregor wins and I win, I want to fight again before the end of the year,” said Pimblet. “I’ll fight him at welterweight in MSG. Something like that?”
Pimblett also stressed that any discussion about a future meeting depends on both men winning at UFC 329. “We’ve got to let everything unfold,” said Pimblett. “You don’t know what’s going to happen. Conor’s got to beat Max, I’ve got to beat BSD. Anything can happen, as we know. In fighting sports, one punch can change the whole realm of the game. The butterfly effect, it can change everything for every other opponent.”
