Paddy Pimblett is not interested in a mega-fight with Conor McGregor according to his teammate Molly McCann.
Pimblett has drawn comparisons to the Irishman due to his surging popularity after winning his first three fights in the UFC. The pair share brash and trash-talking personalities, which has seen shouts for them to share the octagon despite being at vastly different phases of their career.
The Liverpudlian defeated Jordan Leavitt in front of a raucous crowd at London's O2 arena last weekend which saw his name thrust back into the spotlight. However his teammate McCann, who trains at the same Next Generation MMA Gym in Liverpool, believes Pimblett is more focused on making a step-by-step approach to become UFC champion.
“Not anytime soon,” McCann replied during an appearance on talkSPORT when asked about a potential showdown with McGregor. “I think when Conor’s on the decline and Paddy’s at his highest height, that’s when it makes sense probably to make that fight for the pair of them.
“But, Paddy’s not after super fights, Paddy’s after bringing the belts home and Paddy’s after spreading a message and changing the world one fight at a time.” She then went on to confirm that the Liverpudlian pair will both travel to McGregor's plush Dublin pub Black Forge Inn later this week, which could see the pair come face-to-face for the first time publicly.
McGregor is currently out of action as he continues to prepare for a UFC comeback after breaking his leg in defeat to Dustin Poirier last year. The Irishman remains arguably the biggest and highest-paid fighter in the UFC despite his recent decline in form, which has seen him lose three of his last four fights.
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The 33-year-old has been paired with a whole host of potential opponents for his return including Jorge Masvidal, Michael Chandler and Kamaru Usman. McGregor is likely to prioritise a return to 170lb for the first time since 2020 after piling on the pounds and showing off an impressive physique during his recovery.
Many believe Pimblett could match or even eclipse the legacy of McGregor who rose to become double-champion in the sport and has sold eight of the top ten selling pay-per-views in the promotion's history. Although a fight doesn't appear imminent, McGregor has admitted a meeting with Pimblett could be an attractive option in the future and has delivered praise to his UFC counterpart.
"He's a good kid, Paddy. You've got to love the Scousers," McGregor told SecondsOut. "You know my father was born in Liverpool. "One side of my family is from there. So I've got a lot of love for that part of the world. And who knows? You know, I will never say no to nothing. You know, never say never, as they say."
