Paddy 'The Baddy' Pimblett has made his feelings clear on Conor McGregor in an exclusive interview with SPORTbible.
Pimblett, 30, has the lightweight title in his sights, but he has already captured the hearts and minds of UFC fans all over the world.
Some have drawn comparisons between Pimblett and McGregor due to their outspoken and larger-than-life personas. But their lives could not be further apart right now.
The Liverpudlian is on a seven-fight winning streak, sporting victories over Michael Chandler and Tony Ferguson along the way. Whereas McGregor has not fought since he lost to Dustin Poirier in July 2021.
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And a return to the octagon seems a long way away based on the Irishman’s recent actions in his personal life.
On Tuesday (June 17), footage emerged of McGregor appearing to strike a man in an Ibiza nightclub.
This comes after the Irishman was found liable for the assault of Nikita Hand in a Dublin hotel six years ago after a lengthy civil court case in the Republic of Ireland back in November 2024.
Hand was awarded €248,000 (£206,000) in damages.
In February 2025, BBC News reported that McGregor intended to appeal the finding of the civil case.
UFC President Dana White recently admitted that he’s “not fighting anytime soon” when pressed on McGregor's situation.
So, what does Pimblett think about McGregor and whether the Irishman will fight again?
Speaking to SPORTbible on behalf of casino.org, before the recent footage of McGregor emerged, Pimblett said: “I don't think McGregor's coming back.
"I want to be the champion before anything. Anyone who says they wouldn't take a fight with him, though, is a liar. He's the biggest name in the sport, and it's going to get you more money than fighting anyone else.
"If the fight ever came to fruition, I think we all know I'm taking it.
"That being said, I think we all know for now that he's not fighting for a long time; it's one of those."
Who Paddy fights next is still unclear, but his next move will be heavily influenced by the result of Ilia Topuria vs Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 on June 29.
Pimblett himself believes the UFC will want to make the Topuria fight because “it’s a money fight”.
"If Ilia [Topuria] wins and says he wants to fight me, the UFC will make that fight because they know it's a money fight," he told Tom Aspinall on his YouTube channel.
"I know I'd beat him... I know how to beat him. No one goes for his weaknesses; everyone just tries to have a boxing match with him."
Topics: Conor McGregor, MMA, Paddy Pimblett, UFC, Spotlight
Luke Davies