Paddy Pimblett called out by ‘hottest free agent in MMA’ after expressing his desire to fight UFC 300 star
Paddy Pimblett has been called out by ‘the hottest free agent in MMA’ – but it appears he has bigger fish to fry.
Former Cage Warriors featherweight champion Paul Hughes recently fought out his contract with the promotion and is now hoping to receive a call-up from the UFC.
4
The 11-1 Irishman scored a first-round TKO win over lightweight fighter Fabian Silva at Cage Warriors 170 in Dublin last weekend.
Hughes subsequently signed a managerial contract with Chosen Advisory - a company that also looks after the careers of Leon Edwards, Max Holloway, and a bunch of other UFC stars.
They announced the signing by branding Hughes ‘the hottest free agent in MMA’ and fans of the sport tend to agree with that description.
One social media user suggested Hughes should join Dana White’s MMA league and make his debut against Pimblett, who is on a five-fight win streak since becoming a UFC athlete in 2021.
READ MORE ON PADDY PIMBLETT
He replied: “I like it! Mostly because I’d beat him with one hand. Absolute s****bag!”
The pair weren’t known to have any type of beef, so combat sports reporter Ariel Helwani was keen to dissect the bold prediction when he spoke with Hughes on .
“I’m not a huge one for beefs and all, I only do it when it’s legit, it’s not no fake stuff,” Hughes insisted.
“I just always think he has a stinking attitude, being around him in Cage Warriors days coming up. I’ve just never seen eye to eye with him, to be honest.
Most read in MMA
4
4
“I think what he’s doing, his fights in the UFC, are very very poor and I genuinely believe, as I said in the comment, I’d beat him with one hand and he’s a s****bag.
“It’s absolutely a fight I want down the line and would be open to.”
Paddy Pimblett threatens Logan Paul in chilling message after MMA fight call-out
Pimblett hasn’t addressed Hughes’ comments about him, but he seems to have no interest in the matchup after recently naming a bunch of ranked lightweights he wants to fight next.
Renato Moicano, who fights Jalin Turner at UFC 300 on Saturday night, is the man he wants to face the most but he’s open to taking on anyone in the UFC’s top 15.
"I think Jalin Turner's good and he’s gonna knock Moicano out, and then Moicano could come running back to me,” Pimblett said in a video shared to his YouTube channel.
"I'll knock him out as well. If he wins or loses, I wanna punch his head in.
4
"Drew Dober said something about me as well, mad one. If Moicano gets his jaw snapped or something, there’s multiple people who want a slice.
"I rate Drew Dober, he’s got power in his hands but he couldn’t knock me out. If Moicano is out grappling you for two or three rounds, imagine what I'd do to you on the floor.
"I've seen me vs [Rafael] dos Anjos, me vs Dan Hooker, me vs Bobby Green. It’s whoever.
"I want to fight a ranked opponent next. People keep b****ing online. I don't pick my fights. I’ve just fought a former interim champion, I’m climbing the ladder and I want to fight someone ranked next."
'The Baddy' is expected to feature when the UFC holds a pay-per-view show in Manchester this July, but it seems almost certain that Hughes won't be his opponent.
Pimblett will finally begin his 155lb title charge in 2024.
Topics