DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla. – Paddy Pimblett is one of the UFC’s hottest new signings, and if the promotion is looking for an opponent to welcome him to the organization, Jared Gordon will oblige.
Pimblett (16-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC), a former Cage Warriors champion, finally made the jump to the sport’s biggest promotion in March. The UFC put out a social media blast announcing his signing, which only happens for select fighters.
That caught Gordon’s (17-4 MMA, 5-3 UFC) attention, as did a subsequent callout from Pimblett. If Gordon had his way he would be fighting up in the rankings rather than a newcomer, but given the circumstances, he said it’s a fight he’s open to, and has pushed his management to officially request.
“That kid Paddy Pimblett was calling me out,” Gordon told MMA Junkie. “I don’t think that really makes sense as far as business-wise goes, because he has no UFC fights. The only thing that does carry is the hype behind him. The UFC announced it and he’s got a lot of hype, and Liverpool, and he called me out because I fought (his teammate) Chris Fishgold and I beat him, and they’re from the same area. There’s not any animosity, he just thinks it would be a good fight for him. So, I was asking my manager to get me that one. If that’s a way for me to stay at ’45, then I’ll take the fight and steal his shine.”
When Gordon talks about staying at featherweight, he’s referring to concern he might be forced to move up to lightweight after a 4.5-pound weight miss prior to his win over Danny Chavez at UFC Fight Night 185 in February. He said he’s hoping he can remain at 145 pounds, and set a fighting timeline that would allow him to make weight without issue.
“I would like to fight like June or July,” Gordon said. “I missed weight like an ass in my last one, so I’m not sure what they’re going to make me do as far a weight class. I’m hoping they let me stay (at featherweight). I think ’45 is where I do my best work. But if not, I’ll have to get through it just like everything else and make adjustments at ’55.”
Gordon said he’s not sure if the UFC will ultimately pair him with Pimblett next. It’s not a fight he’s super keen on, but also doesn’t see any clear other fights for himself right now. He doesn’t think it would be the best career move for Pimblett, either, because Gordon has a style that is hard to look good against.
“Stylistically, I don’t think it’s a good matchup for him. But it would be a way for him – if he gets a win over a guy of my caliber then it definitely works good for him,” Gordon said. “But at the same time, I should be fighting guys that have the same amount of fights as me or more at this point – not guys with no UFC fights. So it doesn’t really get me anywhere besides stealing his shine. For me, it doesn’t make sense. For him, it makes way more sense.”
Jared Gordon down to welcome Paddy Pimblett to UFC ‘and steal his shine’