Mar 22, 2025; London, England, United Kingdom; Paddy Pimblett, UFC Lightweight fighter, watches as Jai Herbert (red gloves) fights against Chris Padilla (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at O2 Arena. Mandatory Credit: Peter van den Berg-Imagn Images

mma

‘I Forgot About Him’ – Paddy Pimblett Goes Off On Former Champion After “Forgetting” To Call Him Out

Paddy Pimblett reveals that he completely forgot to call out his arch nemesis after he beat Michael Chandler at UFC 314!

Paddy Pimblett has been making waves in the UFC since his debut. The charismatic lightweight fighter has quickly became a fan favorite. His entertaining fighting style and bold personality drew comparisons to another European UFC star who took the promotion by storm: Conor McGregor.

UFC 314 marked another milestone in Pimblett’s rising career. He faced veteran fighter Michael Chandler in what many considered his toughest test yet. After weathering an early storm from the American, Pimblett turned the tide in the third round. A perfectly placed knee rocked Chandler. Then Pimblett unleashed a barrage of punches and elbows. The referee stepped in to stop the fight with less than two minutes remaining. The victory catapulted Pimblett up the lightweight rankings and closer to title contention.

Also Read: ‘He Ratted Liverpool’ – Paddy Pimblett Expresses Disappointment When Asked About Soccer Star’s Move to Real Madrid

Paddy Pimblett “Forgets” To Call Out Champion

In his post-fight press conference, Pimblett made headlines for an unusual reason. He admitted he completely forgot to call out former UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria in his octagon interview.

“I literally forgot all about him, that’s how irrelevant he is. I’m ranked higher than him at Lightweight so, you know, I would love to welcome him to 155lbs but apparently he is sitting out and waiting for a title shot. What I’ve just done to Chandler is half the blueprint to beat him, he is even more of a midget than he is. I’ll do the exact same thing to Ilia as I did to Chandler.”

The potential matchup kind of makes sense from a promotional standpoint. Both fighters have built significant followings. Their contrasting personalities and fighting styles could create an intriguing dynamic. Topuria, known for his technical striking and ground game, would present yet another stylistic challenge for the ever-improving Pimblett.

Paddy Pimblett Fires At Conor McGregor

Perhaps even more surprising than forgetting Topuria was Pimblett’s reaction to Conor McGregor’s betting activities. The Irish superstar had placed a massive $500,000 bet on Chandler to knock out Pimblett. This prediction backfired spectacularly for the former two-division champion.

“Even (Conor) McGregor putting money on Chandler to win, lad. The Irish-Scouse connection. He’s meant to back me. And even never! So if he wants it, he can get it as well…Yeah I didn’t think he’d go against me, to be honest. I thought he’d back me and not Chandler, but it’s one of them isn’t it?”

Pimblett was clearly disappointed by McGregor’s lack of support. The Liverpool fighter felt betrayed by the lack of solidarity from a fellow European fighter who blazed a similar trail years earlier.

The possibility of a Pimblett-McGregor showdown seems remote. However, storylines in the UFC can change rapidly. McGregor’s $500,000 loss might just be the spark that ignites a rivalry between two of Europe’s most marketable UFC stars. For now, Pimblett continues his ascent through the lightweight division, with bigger challenges on the horizon!

(Image Credit: Peter van den Berg – Imagn Images)

Conor McGregor

Ilia Topuria

Paddy Pimblett

UFC 314

Zaid Quraishi

mma

I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!