Paddy Pimblett loves the idea of beating Michael Chandler’s and stealing his fight with Conor McGregor.
Chandler was scheduled to face McGregor at UFC 303 last June, but the fight was scrapped when McGregor withdrew due to a broken pinky toe. Tired of waiting for “The Notorious,” Chandler rematched Charles Oliveira at UFC 309 last November but lost the bout by unanimous decision.
Now Chandler (23-9 MMA, 2-4 UFC) will take on Pimblett (22-3 MMA, 6-0 UFC) in a five-round co-main event April 12 at UFC 314 from Kaseya Center in Miami (ESPN+ pay-per-view).
If Pimblett can get past his toughest test to date in the former Bellator champion and UFC title challenger, he’s all for facing McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) next.
“Sounds very tasty,” Pimblett told Round Eight Boxing. “A lot of people have said this to me already: ‘Beat Chandler, take the McGregor fight.’ Obviously he’s the biggest star in the sport. He’s the biggest star we’ve ever seen, biggest pay-per-view star. I’ll fight him in a main event, and we’ll get pay-per-view points.
“It’s a no-brainer, of course, to fight McGregor, but let’s see if he ever fights again. Let’s see if he comes back to the octagon. I respect McGregor, what he’s done for the sport. Our sport wouldn’t be as big as it is now if it wasn’t for him. He took it to a new level, so getting the chance to fight him would be amazing.”
McGregor is yet to return from breaking his leg in a TKO loss to Dustin Poirier in July 2021. Pimblett admits that despite his desire to face McGregor, it likely won’t happen.
“You know what? I’ve said for years, ‘Yeah, I think he will (fight again),’ but the longer it goes, I’m starting to doubt it,” Pimblett said.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 314.
