Paddy Pimblett looks to make a statement against Tony Ferguson

Paddy Pimblett faces the biggest name and biggest test when he takes on former interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson at UFC 296 on Dec. 16 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.  

Ferguson has lost his last six fights, but four of those losses were to fighters at the top of the division.  Looking at the matchup, Pimblett plans to make a statement and prove that he’s ready for a ranked opponent.  

Pimblett is coming off a controversial decision over Jared Gordon and hasn’t fought since December 2022.  

“Can’t get ahead of myself, especially after my last performance,” Pimblett recently told The Schmo. “All I’m thinking about now is coming out and finishing Tony Ferguson in the first round, you know what I mean. Make a statement, let everyone know what they were missing, and then I’ll start looking at ranked opponents in the new year.”

In the time away, Pimblett believes that he’s improved as a fighters and everyone will see a new version at UFC 296.

“As I said, I’ve got a statement to make, it’s been a while since I’ve had so long outside the cage. By the time I fight, I’ll have over a year out of the cage. The amount of training I’ve done to get better and I’m just a different fighter. It’s gonna be The Baddy 2.0, a new mythical fighter is going to get unlocked.”