MANCHESTER, England – Unless a new promotional agreement is signed in the next three days, Paddy Pimblett will close out his current deal Saturday at UFC 304.
Just because he’s fighting it out and could always entertain an extremely lucrative opportunity elsewhere should one pop up, Pimblett (21-3 MMA, 5-0 UFC) wants the public to know the likelihood of that is low.
“Why would I leave the UFC?” Pimblett told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a pre-fight news conference Wednesday. “That got talked so much out of context, like everything I do. Every single thing I do, people spin a narrative on it and change it. I can’t go for a sh*t without people talking about it and spinning it, saying, ‘Oh, he sh*t on someone’s face.’
“Nothing I do cannot be spun out of context. What I said in the interview was obviously, the UFC, obviously I want to get a new contract. If I got offered millions to box some YouTuber, then I’d do it. Who wouldn’t? We’re prizefighters.
Pimblett battles seasoned veteran King Green (32-15-1 MMA, 13-10-1 UFC) at Co-op Live on the event’s main card. Even during fight week, Pimblett said negotiations are ongoing. He voiced optimism whatever his following bout is will take place inside the UFC cage.
“Yeah, my contract is already getting negotiated,” Pimblett said. “As if the UFC is just going to let me go. Are you f*cking messing?”
Pimblet, 29, is one of Europe’s biggest UFC stars. He’s yet to lose in the promotion through five appearances and has notched wins over Luigi Vendramini, Rodrigo Vargas, Jordan Leavitt, Jared Gordon, and Tony Ferguson.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 304.
