Paddy Pimblett is getting his chance to crack the Lightweight Top 15.
UFC 304 will see the return of one of England’s biggest stars when Pimblett battles Bobby Green in Manchester, England on July 27, 2024. The fight will be Pimblett’s first against a ranked opponent with Green at No. 15. It will also be his first fight on home soil since July 2022.
Pimblett, 29, admits it’s not the match up he was hoping for as his sights were on the No. 10-ranked Renato “Moicano” Carneiro. His next fight was only recently announced and “The Baddy” is already annoyed with his opponent.
“He’s a proper tool, lad,” Pimblett told The Mac Life. “He’s a proper weapon. The funniest one is he says he mentioned me. I didn’t mention you. You mentioned me first. So then I mentioned you, ya little sausage.
“Everyone talks about me so it’s all the same,” he continued. “He’s just a proper tool, lad. I think he’s a proper s—t human being. He’s just a proper wanker, lad. He’s saying that I mentioned him first, lad. He’s just lying. Why would I mention you? Why would I mention Bobby Green, lad?”
Pimblett and Green share two common opponents ahead of their fight, Jared Gordon and Tony Ferguson. While Pimblett defeated both via unanimous decision, Green’s Gordon clash resulted in a no-contest (watch highlights) before he submitted Ferguson with a third round arm-triangle choke (watch highlights).
Since Green’s Ferguson win in July 2023, “King” has gone 2-1 with his loss coming via a vicious first round knockout against Jalin Turner (watch highlights). Green rebounded in his following fight against Jim Miller via unanimous decision at UFC 300 last month (April 13, 2024). However, Pimblett believes his upcoming dance partner will never be the same.
“He’s got very good striking,” Pimblett said. “He’s got good hands, but his chin’s gone after what happened with Jalin Turner. Jim Miller’s no knockout artist and he wobbled him once or twice in that fight on UFC 300. I think that is off Jalin Turner absolutely obliterating Bobby Green’s skull into the canvas.
“His striking’s very good, his takedown defense is very good and that’s what he’s gonna try and do,” he continued. “He’s gonna try and use his takedown defense to keep it on the feet ‘cause he thinks he’ll outstrike me. As I say, his chin’s gone so strike with me, we’ll see what happens. I can see me knocking him out. I can see me submitting him.”