It’s the fight that has taken the UKMMA scene by storm, and it’s yet to even happen.
Brendan Loughnane vs. Paddy Pimblett has been the match to make since the Scouser became the Cage Warriors Featherweight champion back on September 10.
The 21-year-old defeated Frenchman Johnny Frachey in-front of a reported crowd of 4,000 at the Liverpool Echo Arena.
Since then, Pimblett’s star power has gone from strength-to-strength, including a coveted appearance on Ariel Helwani’s The MMA Hour.
Following “The Baddy’s” championship win, there have been plenty calling for a UK ‘super-fight’ with Manchester’s Loughnane.
Despite back-and-forth between Loughnane, Pimblett and the CWFC champion’s manager Graham Boylan on Twitter, a deal for the fight has seemingly yet to be secured.
Now, with negotiations reported to have hit a stand-still, 26-year-old Loughnane took to his Facebook to release a video statement about the on-going drama.
Loughnane’s signature is pending whether or not he will sign a multi-fight deal with the CWFC promotion, something the former TUF contestant has no interest in.
Brendan explained: “Right, I just want to give everyone a quick update on this Paddy Pimblett situation. Trust me, there’s no one in the world that wants this fight to happen more than me. I’ve been campaigning for this fight, this is the fight I want, I just don’t want to sign a 12-month, three-fight contract with Cage Warriors.
“You’ve got to see where I’m coming from with this situation. Graham Boylan is stopping this fight from happening, I said I’d do it at 155, I’m not interested in no Cage Warriors title, I just want to put the fight on for the fans.
“The polls are out there, everybody in the world wants to see it.
“I’m signed to Tanko but they’re willing to let me come over, let’s make it happen.”
It is believed the reason Cage Warriors want Loughnane to sign a multi-fight deal is so he can’t walk out of the company with the championship belt.
This has been a policy within the Cage Warriors promotion for the past six years, and it is accustom for athletes in title fights to sign multi-fight deals to prevent this from happening.
As noted by Boylan on Twitter, “U win U defend & they won’t be changing for U or anyone else.” But with Loughnane making it clear he holds no attraction to the CWFC crown, could the British mega fight happen without the gold on the line?
