Paddy Pimblett called out for an all-British battle by former PFL featherweight champion: “Should be fighting next weekend against each other"
Paddy Pimblett is set to take on Bobby Green on the main card of UFC 304 on 27 July in Manchester, England. However, 'The Baddy' was recently called out by fellow countryman Brendan Loughnane, who currently fights in the Professional Fighters League (PFL).
Loughnane is the 2022 PFL featherweight championship winner, and is currently in fine form having won four of his last five fights, all via TKO.
Whilst the Mancunian is still under contract with the PFL, he stated that he should be fighting Pimblett in front of home fans at UFC 304 next weekend. He recently joined combat sports journalist Adam Catterall on talkSPORT MMA to preview next weekend's pay-per-view card.
Catterall asked Loughnane to pick three fantasy fights that he wanted to happen in 2024, and his third choice was the following:
"Brendan and Paddy should be fighting next weekend against each other at the Manchester arena. Should they not? We're not calling it a callout, it's not a callout. It's what should be happening at this stage."
He continued:
"I was on with [Michael] Bisping and we were chatting about it, and he was like, 'Oh my god.' At the stage that [Paddy and I] are both at, we're both winning, I'm the biggest fighter in Manchester arguably, he's the biggest fighter in Liverpool. We've got an arena there, his or mine."
Watch Brendan Loughnane discuss fighting Paddy Pimbett below (22:30):
Paddy Pimblett believes he could be fighting for a UFC title in four fights
Paddy Pimblett is currently undefeated in the UFC with a record of 5-0 since entering the promotion in late 2021. It will be his first appearance in the octagon in 2024, with his previous bout coming against Tony Ferguson at UFC 296.
'The Baddy' will compete at UFC 304, where he will face promotional veteran Bobby 'King' Green in the feature bout of the main card.
Ahead of this fight, Pimblett outlined his path to a lightweight title shot, saying this during a recent interview:
"Obviously I fight Bobby Green, then I fight [Renato] Moicano. Moicano's ranked No. 10 at the minute, but then he's fighting Saint Denis, isn't he? So, then, we could end up, win or lose, he could end up going down, but I'd love that. Moicano, then [Beneil] Dariush would be perfect, he's ranked, like, No. 7 or No. 8, and then someone in the top five, know what I mean? And then obviously, go for the belt, if possible."
Watch Paddy Pimblett's interview below (17:30):