Paddy Pimblett has dropped a big hint that he has his next UFC fight booked following his spectacular debut.
‘The Baddy’ announced his arrival in UFC in grand style last month, defeating Brazil’s Luigi Vendramini in double-quick time with a first-round victory, having promised just that before the fight.
The 26-year-old has vowed to “take over” UFC after making his long-awaited first steps into the championship, and it seems he’s wasting no time in continuing his progression.
Pimblett took to his Instagram account to post a picture of himself in training, along with the caption “contract signed @graham_boylan”, tagging in the head of Cage Warriors and his manager.
He didn’t suggest who his next opponent will be, with details on his next fight likely to come soon, although he isn’t ruling out anyone as he sets his sights on the top.
“I'm not looking into anyone. I don't need to,” Pimblett told The Fight with Teddy Atlas podcast.
“The amount of people that are talking about me, on Twitter and Instagram. Fighters in the 155-pound division, even fighters in other divisions, lads. They’re all making pictures with my hair on them.
“They want to jump on the Paddy wagon, lad. Like, people can use my name all they want, but I'm not going to be mentioning anyone's name. I don't need to. I'll just sit here and smile.”
Although he’s not giving anything away as to who his next opponent might be, Pimblett is setting his sights high over the next couple of years.
“I think the best 155er in the world is Dustin Poirier. Even though he hasn't got the belt. I think he's going to win the belt.
“Then (Charles) Oliveira's brilliant. I rate Islam Makhachev as well. I'd like to fight people like that. The top echelons of the division.
“Michael Chandler, Justin Gaethje. People like that. They're the top five I think and in the next two years, that's who I want to be fighting.”
