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UFC’s Undefeated Rising Star Sets Sights on Historic Matchup

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Prince Horton | Last updated Mar 10, 2025 2:29 PM ET

Riding an unstoppable wave in the UFC lightweight division, an undefeated contender has stacked up six straight wins since his 2021 debut, where he made a statement by securing a TKO victory over Luigi Vendramini. The Liverpool native has silenced critics at every turn, proving he’s more than just hype—he’s a legitimate title threat.

On a recent episode of Shak MMA , Paddy Pimblett doubled down on his intent to defend his belt against the best, making it clear that he has no interest in moving up until he’s cleared out the division. But make no mistake—he’s got his eyes on the biggest fight possible.

"Conor McGregor at Anfield would be the perfect fight."

That’s right—Pimblett wants his dream fight against McGregor in front of a packed Liverpool Anfield Stadium, predicting it would be one of the biggest events in UFC history. The bad blood, the buildup, the all-British-Irish war? Box office gold.

Meanwhile, McGregor's career is all over the place. One minute he’s training for his UFC return, the next he’s teasing a boxing mega-bout, and by lunchtime, he’s probably negotiating a bare-knuckle brawl over a pint of Proper Twelve. He’s got two UFC fights left, but let’s be honest—predicting McGregor’s next move is harder than winning a decision against Khabib. What’s next? A WWE appearance? A cooking show? A pub crawl championship? Who knows—but Pimblett’s ready if the stars (and McGregor) finally align.

Even Dana White knows a potential Pimblett vs. McGregor showdown would be massive. The UFC president has remained non-committal, but he’s never been one to shy away from big-money fights. If the demand is there—and let’s be real, it is—White might just make it happen.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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