Paddy Pimblett has been called out by a UFC star in the weight class above, who is not impressed by the lightweight.
The Scouse fighter has been a welcome addition to the UFC roster with his personality on the mic, and the finishes of fighters like Michael Chandler make him one to watch in the organisation.
His feud with Ilia Topuria and the ongoing exchanges with fellow contender Arman Tsarukyan have seen him force himself into the title picture.
Tsarukyan has been adamant about his own shot at the belt and believes the 30-year-old Pimblett should be ‘deleted’ from the rankings, seeing him as undeserving of the opportunity.
‘You are a gimmick’ – Paddy Pimblett receives scathing callout from UFC welterweight star
However, ‘The Baddy’ finds himself at #7 with a second fight at the end of the year, with the aim of moving on to a potential opportunity at the world championship in 2026.
While sticking to his natural weight class of 155 is the plan, one fighter from the welterweight division has decided to try and make Paddy come up to fight him next.
The outspoken Colby Covington, a former interim welterweight champion, has reignited his dislike of the Liverpudlian in a recent interview with Helen Yee.
In the interview, he was asked who he would most want to fight next, and he launched a brutal attack on the popular fighter.
Covington said: “The Paddy Pimblett fight super interests me because in Miami, he was talking s- – – running his mouth backstage. I wasn’t even looking at him or talking to him. He wants to start some s- – -.
“He was saying in an interview the other day, his doctor said he had liver failure from cutting to 155. Dude, come up a weight class. Come to 170. Why are you being a weight bully, Paddy?”
The comments about weight cutting were not in reference to a recent fight, but his weight cut for his 2017 loss to Nad Narimani, where he lost his Cage Warriors featherweight title.
But his critiques and insults of the star did not end there, as the American named another fighter he would potentially face if he could not secure a fight against the Brit.
“You’re a bum. You’re a gimmick. You’re a f- – -ing little English accent and your little bowl cut. That’s the only reason people know you,” he said.
“So, let’s get it going, Paddy. And if I can’t get Paddy, then maybe Gilbert Burns.”
Colby Covington reveals potential UFC return dates with a slot on a huge card likely
While he has not been able to secure his next foe just yet, there have been conversations with Dana White and company about when ‘Chaos’ will make his Octagon return.
During the interview, he was quizzed on his comeback to the cage after his 2024 stoppage loss to Joaquin Buckley.
He said: “I’ve been talking to Hunter Campbell and we’re looking for October and November, maybe November in the Garden. But wherever Hunter decides, I’ll be ready.
“If they need to push me to December in the T-Mobile event, then December in Vegas sounds good. But I want to get in there as soon as possible… I didn’t get a training camp last fight. So, full training camp, bring anybody in the world. I’m ready to go.”
If he makes the card, it would mean there is a third welterweight fight on UFC 322, topped by the title fight between Jack Della Maddalena and Islam Makhachev.