Just over two years ago, Paddy Pimblett was not an Ultimate Fighting Championship fighter. He had declined two UFC deals to stay with Cage Warriors, getting better compensation from their contracts. He is just five fights into his UFC career, but the early results took the sport by storm last season. Now, the question is how far Pimblett, nicknamed The Baddy, can progress in the championship. He is 5–0 in the UFC, but his upcoming opponent isn't impressed. Let's look at his back story and what we might expect from him.
Who Is Paddy “The Baddy” Pimblett?
Patrick "Paddy" Pimblett was born in January 1995 in Liverpool, England. He grew up in Huyton, Merseyside, and attended St. Margaret Mary's Primary School and Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School. He started training in mixed martial arts at 15 after watching Rich Franklin and Vitor Belfort fight each other at UFC 103. He joined Next Generation MMA and, two years later, made his professional debut in 2012.
He started his career 3–0 before signing with Cage Warriors, and in 2016, four years after his career started, he claimed the Cage Warriors featherweight championship. He also defended that title against Julian Erosa in a highly controversial fight.
After he lost the featherweight championship, he moved up to lightweight and challenged for the lightweight belt, ultimately losing to Soren Bak. After a few more fights, he signed his contract with UFC, debuting in 2021. He signed an endorsement deal with Barstool Sports in October before embarking on a highly successful 2022 campaign, winning the World MMA Awards 2022 Breakthrough Fighter of the Year and becoming an MMA betting favorite.
Pimblett has a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and specializes in grappling and forcing opponents into submissions.
How Has Pimblett Performed Recently?
While 2022 was a highly successful year for Pimblett, 2023 was much slower. After three fights in 2022, he only fought once in 2023, beating Tony Ferguson unanimously at UFC 296. Despite only fighting once, the win was the signature win of his career, according to The Baddy.
"That was the biggest win of my career," said Pimblett in a post-fight interview. I beat a legend who is going to end up in the UFC Hall of Fame. I dominated the fight and won every single round."
The fight brought attention to the Englishman, and Pimblett stated that he was disappointed that he didn't end it in the first round. While Ferguson is a legend and the best win of Pimblett's career, he is also 40 years old, and even The Baddy admitted that Ferguson was at the end of his career. It did help him to continue moving up the ladder.
Who’s Next?
After his win against Ferguson, Pimblett didn't immediately get a fight on the books. However, one popular matchup possibility is Renato Moicano, another aging star who is a bit younger than Ferguson but without legendary status.
Despite that, Moicano is not shy about telling fans how he thinks this fight will end. The #13-ranked lightweight fighter in the UFC claimed he would "beat [Pimblett] up good" if they fought.
For Pimblett, it would be another step up the ladder. Moicano is younger and has a higher ranking than Ferguson. But for Moicano, this fight would be a step-down, as he would lose an opportunity to fight against a better-ranked opponent that would get him closer to a title shot.
Despite that, the hype surrounding Pimblett and the numbers their match would bring in would make it a cash cow. For Pimblett, the proposition is clear. He would be getting a fight with a higher-ranked opponent because of the hype surrounding him, different from what he's done in the octagon. Still, a win could improve his chances of a title shot.
Could Pimblett Swing a Title Shot?
A title shot for Pimblett is still somewhat unlikely. He is nearly 30 and needs things to break right for him, including his next opponent. The Baddy is no joke in the octagon, but he needs to beat a legitimate opponent to begin convincing people. He is a rising star with notable MMA talent — the question is whether or not the stars will align for him.
He is marketable, often the most critical characteristic for a fighter this late to the party. However, he has yet to face a top-15 fighter, so a fight against someone like Moicano would be a proving ground for the British-made fighter.
When Does Pimblett Fight Next?
Pimblett still needs a fight on the books for 2024. Whatever fight he takes will be pivotal in his career. He has limited opportunities to earn a title fight, and he can't leave his next fight up to chance, especially given the momentum he has of his last fight. Fans will be tuned in closely to his next move, hoping to watch The Baddy continue making moves in UFC rings.
