Paddy
Pimblett would like to see upcoming opponent Tony
Ferguson return to the win column — just not at his
expense.
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Pimblett is scheduled to return to action at
UFC 296 on Saturday after being shelved for a year due to an
injury that that was aggravated in his last fight against Jared
Gooden and needed surgery. “The Baddy” is unbeaten in his last
six outings, including four in the UFC. Ferguson, by contrast, has
lost six straight.
While Ferguson was once touted to be the only threat to former
lightweight king Khabib
Nurmagomedov, “El Cucuy” hasn’t appeared to be the same fighter
since a lopsided beating against Justin
Gaethje in 2020.
Pimblett is also a fan of Ferguson and wants the former interim
champ to register one more win before hanging up his gloves.
However, the 28-year-old Liverpudlian can’t let it happen in their
upcoming clash on Dec. 16.
“I really respect Tony Ferguson. He’s one of the Top 5 lightweights
of all time. Who wasn’t [a fan]? Even I want Tony Ferguson to get a
win and then retire,” Pimblett told TNT Sports. “I
just can’t let him do it at my expense, lad. It’s not
happening.
“I’m going in there expecting an ‘El Cucuy’ that turned up against
Donald
Cerrone and Anthony
Pettis. I’m not going in there expecting the slow version that
turned up against Bobby Green.
I’m expecting the best version of Tony. It’s gonna be an absolute
honor to share the cage with him.”