The meteoric rise of Paddy Pimblett continues to shake the foundations of the MMA scene in the UK, with multiple rumours circulating over the future of the young Scouser.
The Cage Warriors Featherweight champion has taken the UK market by storm ever since he captured the ‘Big Gold Belt’ in Liverpool on September 10.
4,000 fans packed the Liverpool Echo Arena to see Pimblett (12-1) finish Frenchman Johnny Frachey in 95 seconds.
Now, it would seem multiple promotions are in pursuit of the 21-year-old’s signature.
On Monday evening, “The Baddy” made his debut on Ariel Helwani’s The MMA Hour where he announced he had some big news in the coming days.
Host Helwani asked Paddy about the kind of money he is making in CWFC, which he responded: “It’s alright money.”
This prompted Pimblett to tease his fans over his pending future: “I’ve got an announcement coming soon, over the next few days. What everyone will be interested in. Because I’ve signed something with a certain organisation, I can’t say just yet, but I’m going to be getting great money and it’s in my best interests.”
There is a huge amount of speculation over the Liverpudlian’s future in MMA, with numerous promoters courting the rising star. The consensus believe that Pimblett is heading to the UFC, with a potential debut on the November 19 Belfast card.
Nonetheless, that hasn’t stopped various promoters adding fuel to the fire. Prior to Paddy’s appearance on The MMA Hour, representatives from Tanko FC (Manchester based) and Absolute Championship Berkut (ACB) tweeted Pimblett, offering to ‘treble’ the amount of money he made for his championship win.
If a situation like this was to occur in boxing, a purse bid would likely ensue. This is where promoters bid on the total purse (amount both fighters will be paid) with the highest bid winning the right to promote the match-up.
One thing that is abundant, Pimblett has a serious amount of options for his next fight. If a UFC deal was in-fact off the table, domestic names like Brendan Loughnane and Saul Rogers are potential mega-fights on offer. Both bouts being ultra-bankable under the historic ‘Liverpool vs. Manchester’ rivalry.
However, Pimblett’s manager Graham Boylan – owner of Cage Warriors – may have revealed the future of his champion, with a tweet directed at Manchester’s Loughnane.
If your serious @Brendan264 and you want a piece of “the baddy”
( @PatrickPimblett ) if dates work & he’s still around lets do it. #ukmma— Graham Boylan (@GrahamBoylan) 20 September 2016
Where do I sign….. https://t.co/U8iLzfWFyc
— Brendan Loughnane (@Brendan264) 20 September 2016
Obviously, the match-up would depend on whether or not Pimblett signs to the UFC, but there is no question that a fight with Loughnane would generate a lot of money for CWFC.
Loughnane recently sold-out the Manchester Victoria Warehouse for a Tanko FC event which was streamed live on TheSPORTbible.
Whether the fight happens at the Manchester Arena or the Liverpool Echo Arena, the convergence of the UK’s top two stars would likely make it the most publicised fight since Alex Reid fought Tom Watson in 2010.
Pimblett claimed to Helwani that he wants to fight again before the year’s end and a potential fight with Loughnane would surely be a fitting conclusion.
UPDATE:
On September 22, Cage Warriors announced they had re-signed Paddy Pimblett; and teammate Chris Fishgold, to the promotion.
A statement from CWFC read: “Chris Fishgold, the Cage Warriors lightweight champion and his teammate, the newly crowned featherweight champion Paddy Pimblett have both signed an extension deal with Cage Warriors, which will keep them with the promotion into 2017.”
With Pimblett set to ‘make the first defence of his title before the end of 2016’, the rumoured mega-fight against Brendan Loughnane could now potentially materialise.
