Paddy Pimblett

Patrick Pimblett (born 3 January 1995) is an English professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the lightweight division in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A professional since 2012, Pimblett is a former Cage Warriors Featherweight Champion.

Early life
Paddy Pimblett was born on 3 January 1995 and grew up in Huyton, Merseyside. He attended St Margaret Mary's Primary school and Cardinal Heenan Catholic High school. Influenced by the fight between Rich Franklin and Vitor Belfort at UFC 103, he started training in mixed martial arts at the age of 15, joining Next Generation MMA and deciding he would compete in the sport for a living shortly after.

Early career
Pimblett made his debut in 2012, aged 17, racking up a 3–0 record before signing with Cage Warriors a year later. In 2016, he claimed the Cage Warriors featherweight championship, beating Johnny Frachey at the Echo Arena in Liverpool, and defended it once against Julian Erosa, winning a highly controversial unanimous decision. In April 2017, Pimblett lost it against Nad Narimani and moved up to lightweight. After a win, he challenged for the Cage Warriors lightweight championship, losing by unanimous decision to Søren Bak. After two more wins in the organisation, Pimblett signed a contract with the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Pimblett had previously declined two UFC deals, getting better financial offers from Cage Warriors.

Ultimate Fighting Championship
Pimblett made his promotional debut against Luigi Vendramini on 4 September 2021, at UFC Fight Night 191. Pimblett won the bout via knockout in the first round. This fight earned him a Performance of the night bonus. In October 2021, Pimblett signed an endorsement deal with Barstool Sports worth over $1,000,000.

Pimblett faced Rodrigo Vargas on 19 March 2022 at UFC Fight Night 204. He won the fight via submission in round one. With this win, he received his second consecutive Performance of the Night award. Paddy would later reveal he made $12,000 to show and $12,000 to win.

Pimblett next faced Jordan Leavitt on 23 July 2022 at UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Aspinall. He won the fight via rear-naked choke submission in the second round. This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.

Pimblett faced Jared Gordon on 10 December 2022 at UFC 282. He won the bout via unanimous decision. The decision was met with controversy, as many media outlets, fighters, and fans expressed their belief that Gordon had won the fight. 23 out of 24 media sources scored the fight in favour of Gordon.

Pimblett faced Tony Ferguson on 16 December 2023 at UFC 296. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Pimblett is scheduled to face Bobby Green on 27 July 2024 at UFC 304.

Personal life
Pimblett married his longtime girlfriend Laura Gregory on 28 May 2023 at Peckforton Castle in Cheshire. In November of the same year, the couple announced they were expecting twins.

Pimblett is a close friend of fellow mixed martial artist Molly McCann.

Pimblett describes himself as a socialist and an opponent of the Conservative Party. He supports the Liverpool-wide boycott of The Sun newspaper.

He is a supporter of Liverpool football club and has expressed a desire to fight at the team's home stadium of Anfield.

Pimblett has said that his trademark floppy hair and lack of tattoos allows children to identify with him in a way that would not be possible for them to do if he was "a big hard fella with lots of tattoos".

In December 2022, Pimblett launched his own hydration drink "Body Fuel".

Championships and accomplishments

 * Ultimate Fighting Championship
 * Performance of the Night (Three times) vs. Luigi Vendramini, Rodrigo Vargas and Jordan Leavitt
 * Cage Warriors Fighting Championship
 * CWFC Featherweight Championship (one time, former)
 * One successful title defence
 * Full Contact Contender
 * FCC Featherweight Championship. (one time, former)
 * One successful title defence
 * World MMA Awards
 * 2022 Breakthrough Fighter of the Year