‘King’ Bats Down ‘Baddy’ Callout

Paddy Pimblett wants to fight Bobby Green … or does he?

“The Baddy” is hoping to compete one more time before his wife gives birth in mid-2024 and wants to face an opponent worthy of a spot in the lightweight Top 15. But Green thinks Pimblett was just flapping his gums for attention.

“There’s no way he called me out,” Green said at the UFC Austin media day (transcribed by MMA Junkie). “Paddy know that’s a bad fight for him. He don’t want that. He’s just talking. He’s just talking, okay? Until he starts walking, get through Tony (Ferguson), and we’ll talk. We’ll talk after that. But Paddy don’t want that. It would be a bad fight for him.”

Pimblett (20-3) is scheduled to fight former interim champion Tony Ferguson at the upcoming UFC 296 pay-per-view (PPV) event on Dec. 16 in Las Vegas. As for Green (31-14-1, 1 NC), he’ll throw hands opposite Jalin Turner at UFC Austin this weekend in Texas.

“I feel like Tony’s going to probably pull something close to the third — closer to that second, third round,” Green predicted. “He pushes a good pace. He comes really hard and takes good shots, so if Paddy doesn’t get him on the ground and tries to do some jiu-jitsu, I see Tony getting him. Tony hits pretty good, too.”

What a difference a year makes.