Paddy Pimblett's instant reaction to Conor McGregor getting injured at UFC 329

Paddy 'The Baddy' Pimblett gave his live reaction to Conor McGregor suffering a suspected ACL tear during his comeback fight against Max Holloway at UFC 239.

Five years on from losing to Dustin Poirier, when he snapped the tibia and fibula in his left leg, McGregor appeared to suffer a serious-looking injury in the opening seconds of Sunday's main event.

McGregor attempted a wild jumping roundhouse kick in the first exchange and, despite getting to his feet, the Irishman looked unsteady before referee Mike Beltran waved off the contest after a series of slips.

It was a disappointing end to the much-anticipated bout, with Holloway being awarded a TKO victory after the contest was waved off at 1 minute and 9 seconds.

Speaking in his post-fight press conference, UFC president Dana White mentioned Paddy Pimblett's first-round submission win over Benoît Saint-Denis before issuing an update on McGregor's condition.

"Listen, everybody who knows anything about the fight business, and it's been a big topic leading upto this fight, five years off is rough," White said.

"Great card, unbelievable. The Paddy Pimblett fight before, you could feel it in the air, here we go. I was expecting at least a one-round war, who knew what Conor was capable of in terms of cardo after a five-year lay-off.

"But there you go. We're assuming blown ACL. I'm no doctor what I figured when I saw it and the doctors thought it too."

Paddy Pimblett reacts to Conor McGregor injury in real time

Pimblett bounced back from his defeat to Justin Gaethje at UFC 324 by submitting lightweight contender Benoit Saint-Denis with a perfectly-executed D’Arce choke. He wrapped up the win in just 52 seconds.

Speaking in his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan, the Liverpudlian said: “Sub of the year, b***hes. I knew he was out [unconscious], you know what I mean? They had to check him.

“I told everyone all week: he’s gonna shoot in, I’m gonna grab him, and I’m gonna choke him out. He was facedown on the canvas. I’m like a f***ing spider, mate. When I get ahold of you, you don’t get out – simple as that."

“I’ll beat Ilia (Topuria) up, I’ll f***ing rematch Justin (Gaethje), I’ll fight Conor (McGregor) or Max (Holloway) next," added Pimblett. "I don’t give a f***. give me anyone and I’ll punch their head in.”

Pimblett went on to conduct a backstage interview with the UFC's social media team and while doing so, McGregor suffered the fight-ending injury.

"Oh my god, McGregor's done already?" said Pimblett as he watched the events unfold. "He's finished, the new boy is in town. The main man is here. I can become the face of the organisation now. But yeah, what a performance from me."

Paddy Pimblett called out Conor McGregor before UFC 239 and named venue for potential superfight

Ahead of this weekend's much-anticipated card, Pimblett set his sights on a welterweight showdown with McGregor.

“The perfect fight for me would be Conor,” he said in an interview with UFC Europe. “It’s mad to be honest because I think … obviously I won seven fights in a row and I don’t think that my stock went up as much as losing my last fight.

"You know, I beat people like Michael Chandler, Bobby Green, Tony Ferguson and people are just like, meh, and then I’ve got me head punched in five rounds and my stock went up.

"I lost but my stock went up because I had a five-round war with a legend like Justin Gaethje but I want that back, you know what I mean? I want to fight him again before he retires. It’s time to get back in the win column.”