THE NEXT NOTORIOUS? CAN PADDY PIMBLETT REIGNITE THE UFC'S CULTURAL FLAME?
Is Paddy Pimblett built to bring back that feeling? The heir apparent might just be the UFC’s way back to the Zeitgeist.
Remember Conor McGregor? The original Conor McGregor. The one you couldn’t take your eyes off. The hungry, hilarious, hitman in a three-piece suit. The one who could sell out press conferences before he ever stepped inside the cage. The Notorious one who stopped throwing left hooks and started throwing whiskey bottles. The man who won our hearts, before he blew up the bank.
The UFC’s search for another crossover star has landed on a shaggy-haired Scouser with enough Riz to charm your nan. A man who wins a fight and inhales a pie from Greggs the bakers. A man whose weight cut alone is the sideshow to end all sideshows. Is Paddy "The Baddy" the chaos merchant we’ve been waiting for?
While most UFC fighters treat their bodies like temples, Paddy treats his like a service station toilet.
His legendary weight fluctuations have become as much a part of his brand as his actual fighting. Between bouts, Pimblett transforms from a shredded 155-pound lightweight into what he lovingly refers to as "Paddy the Fatty" – we’re talking about that 155-pound machine, ballooning up to 200+ pounds.
"I'd rather be fat and happy than ripped and miserable," Pimblett once declared. "When I'm not in camp, I'm not arsed. I'm going to enjoy my life." Legendary.
His pre-fight diet consists of curry, pizza, burgers, and his beloved chocolate. Post-fight? A baked goods victory lap. Nothing says "I just choked out your favourite professional athlete" quite like smashing nine sausage rolls on camera. To be fair to the man, Gregg’s sausage rolls are elite...
Beyond the pastries, there’s skill to back up the schtick. Pimblett is 21-3 (5-1 in the UFC), proving he's no circus act. His victory over Jordan Leavitt came via submission, but that’s not the thing that made the collective Peanut Gallery sit up – the man delivered an emotional post fight speech about mental health following the suicide of his friend.
Pimblett stands out not just because of his skill, but because of his authenticity.