Pimblett takes on American knockout artist Gaethje at UFC 324 in Las Vegas tonight for the interim lightweight world title
Paddy Pimblett accepts fans will still consider him a cocky chancer even if he knocks out Justin Gaethje.
Pimblett takes on the American knockout artist at UFC 324 tonight for the interim lightweight world title. The Liverpool star’s right to a shot at the belt was questioned when No.1 contender Arman Tsarukyan was overlooked. Fans have accused UFC bosses of protecting gobby Pimblett given his obvious box-office appeal.
But victory over veteran Gaethje will propel the brash Brit into a unification clash with reigning lightweight champion Ilia Topuria. He is taking time out to deal with a family feud but insists he will fight the winner of tonight’s clash by the summer. And Pimblett admits he will need to become the first man to beat Topuria if he is to change fans’ perceptions.
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“It will be far from mission complete; it doesn’t work like that,” he said. “You’ve got to go out there and prove that you’re the best. At the minute, people are still going to doubt me and say that I’m not the best, because Ilia isn’t around. People think I’m a young, obnoxious kid, that I’m just delusional. People mistake my confidence for arrogance.
“I’m just very confident in my own abilities; I know how good I am but other people don’t know how good I am. There’s a difference between it, and some people don’t like someone who’s so confident, that’s why a lot of MMA fans don’t like me. They think I’m delusional and I’m this and I’m that. I’m just confident and I know how good I am. No one else knows it but everyone will see how good I am when I finish Justin Gaethje.”
Conor McGregor was the last man to win the 155lb strap from the champion when he knocked out Eddie Alvarez almost a decade ago. And Pimblett wants to follow in the Irishman’s footsteps by welcoming Topuria back to the cage. “Hopefully Ilia doesn’t take the p***. I hope that he comes back and fights, and I’m there to fight him,” he added.
“You want to beat the champ and at the minute, I’m fighting someone for the interim belt who is not the actual champ. I want to be the first person since Conor McGregor to win the actual belt off the champion. Since McGregor, no lightweight has won the belt off the champion. They’ve always won a vacant belt, and that was about 10 years ago.”
Paddy Pimblett was speaking in association with casino.co.uk
